Muscle development and muscle stem cells
P4
Subproject Speakers
Berlin: Carmen Birchmeier, PhD, Prof.
Paris: Frédéric Relaix, PhD, Prof.
During skeletal muscle development, a Pax7+ progenitor cell population is established, which contributes to muscle growth and generates satellite cells late in fetal development [1]. Satellite cells are responsible for skeletal muscle regeneration, and represent the stem cell of the adult muscle [2]. Similarities between pathways that control progenitor or satellite cell renewal and differentiation are apparent. For instance, myogenic determination factors like Myf5 and MyoD control myogenic differentiation of progenitor and satellite cells. The ability to manipulate the molecular mechanisms that control proliferation, self-renewal, and myogenic differentiation has important implications for the use of satellite cells in regenerative medicine for skeletal muscle diseases. Several signaling systems, for instance Notch, BMPs, and tyrosine kinases, control proliferation of progenitors and satellite cells, and affect the balance between progenitor or satellite cell expansion and differentiation. Our previous work allows us to design strategies to manipulate adult muscle growth in a muscle stem cell-dependent and -independent manner. Moreover, we are now able to manipulate crucial muscle stem cell properties, like proliferation and differentiation, by using signaling molecules. These are pivotal tools towards the development of stem cell therapies for neuromuscular disorders. The major focus of this project is to develop strategies that recruit and expand the inherent muscle stem cell pool, which is precociously exhausted during muscular dystrophies, resulting in uncompensated muscle wasting of the affected individuals.
Completed theses
STUDENT | MYOGRAD PHD STUDENT FROM |
THESIS PROJECT | DEFENCE AND DEGREE |
---|---|---|---|
Jie-Shin Chen | 2013-2018 | The role of Met and CXCR4 during muscle regeneration |
Defence on Oct. 29, 2018 in Berlin Doctoral degree from |
Joana Esteves de Lima | 2011-2015 | Link between signaling pathways, cell cycle, and mechanical forces during foetal myogenesis | Defence on Sept. 28, 2015 in Paris Joint doctoral degree from UPMC, Paris 6 and Freie Universität Berlin |
Joscha Griger | 2010-2015 | Shp2 functions in postnatal skeletal muscle growth and regeneration | Defence on July 31, 2015 in Berlin Doctoral degree from Freie Universität Berlin |
Despoina Mademtzoglou | 2012-2016 | Coordinating growth arrest and myogenesis in muscle stem cells: A molecular and cellular analysis | Defence on Sept. 2, 2016 in Paris Joint doctoral degree from UPMC, Paris 6 and Freie Universität Berlin |
Elija Schirwis | 2010-2014 | Skeletal muscle growth and maintenance depend on BMP signaling | Defence on March 24, 2014 in Paris Joint doctoral degree from UPMC, Paris 6 and Freie Universität Berlin |
Antoine Zalc | 2010-2014 | Study of Pax3 and Pax7 functions during the development of the mouse embryo | Defence on Sept. 26, 2014 in Paris Joint doctoral degree from UPMC, Paris 6 and Freie Universität Berlin |