An engineered multicellular stem cell niche for the 3D derivation of human myogenic progenitors from iPSCs.

Fate decisions in the embryo are controlled by a plethora of microenvironmental interactions in a three-dimensional niche. To investigate whether aspects of this microenvironmental complexity can be engineered to direct myogenic human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) differentiation, we here screened murine cell types present in the developmental or adult stem cell niche in heterotypic suspension embryoids. We identified embryonic endothelial cells and fibroblasts as highly permissive for myogenic specification of hiPSCs. After two weeks of sequential Wnt and FGF pathway induction, these three-component embryoids are enriched in Pax7-positive embryonic-like myogenic progenitors that can be isolated by flow cytometry. Myogenic differentiation of hiPSCs in heterotypic embryoids relies on a specialized structural microenvironment and depends on MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and Notch signaling. After transplantation in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, embryonic-like myogenic progenitors repopulate the stem cell niche, reactivate after repeated injury, and, compared to adult human myoblasts, display enhanced fusion and lead to increased muscle function. Altogether, we provide a two-week protocol for efficient and scalable suspension-based 3D derivation of Pax7-positive myogenic progenitors from hiPSCs.

Aging Disrupts Muscle Stem Cell Function by Impairing Matricellular WISP1 Secretion from Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors.

Research on age-related regenerative failure of skeletal muscle has extensively focused on the phenotypes of muscle stem cells (MuSCs). In contrast, the impact of aging on regulatory cells in the MuSC niche remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that aging impairs the function of mouse fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) and thereby indirectly affects the myogenic potential of MuSCs. Using transcriptomic profiling, we identify WNT1 Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein 1 (WISP1) as a FAP-derived matricellular signal that is lost during aging. WISP1 is required for efficient muscle regeneration and controls the expansion and asymmetric commitment of MuSCs through Akt signaling. Transplantation of young FAPs or systemic treatment with WISP1 restores the myogenic capacity of MuSCs in aged mice and rescues skeletal muscle regeneration. Our work establishes that loss of WISP1 from FAPs contributes to MuSC dysfunction in aged skeletal muscles and demonstrates that this mechanism can be targeted to rejuvenate myogenesis.

Inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling stimulates adult satellite cell function.

Diminished regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle occurs during adulthood. We identified a reduction in the intrinsic capacity of mouse adult satellite cells to contribute to muscle regeneration and repopulation of the niche. Gene expression analysis identified higher expression of JAK-STAT signaling targets in 3-week [corrected] 18-month-old mice [corrected]. Knockdown of Jak2 or Stat3 significantly stimulated symmetric satellite stem cell divisions on cultured myofibers. Genetic knockdown of Jak2 or Stat3 expression in prospectively isolated satellite cells markedly enhanced their ability to repopulate the satellite cell niche after transplantation into regenerating tibialis anterior muscle. Pharmacological inhibition of Jak2 and Stat3 activity similarly stimulated symmetric expansion of satellite cells in vitro and their engraftment in vivo. Intramuscular injection of these drugs resulted in a marked enhancement of muscle repair and force generation after cardiotoxin injury. Together these results reveal age-related intrinsic properties that functionally distinguish satellite cells and suggest a promising therapeutic avenue for the treatment of muscle-wasting diseases.

Wnt7a stimulates myogenic stem cell motility and engraftment resulting in improved muscle strength.

Wnt7a/Fzd7 signaling stimulates skeletal muscle growth and repair by inducing the symmetric expansion of satellite stem cells through the planar cell polarity pathway and by activating the Akt/mTOR growth pathway in muscle fibers. Here we describe a third level of activity where Wnt7a/Fzd7 increases the polarity and directional migration of mouse satellite cells and human myogenic progenitors through activation of Dvl2 and the small GTPase Rac1. Importantly, these effects can be exploited to potentiate the outcome of myogenic cell transplantation into dystrophic muscles. We observed that a short Wnt7a treatment markedly stimulated tissue dispersal and engraftment, leading to significantly improved muscle function. Moreover, myofibers at distal sites that fused with Wnt7a-treated cells were hypertrophic, suggesting that the transplanted cells deliver activated Wnt7a/Fzd7 signaling complexes to recipient myofibers. Taken together, we describe a viable and effective ex vivo cell modulation process that profoundly enhances the efficacy of stem cell therapy for skeletal muscle.

The emerging biology of muscle stem cells: implications for cell-based therapies.

Cell-based therapies for degenerative diseases of the musculature remain on the verge of feasibility. Myogenic cells are relatively abundant, accessible, and typically harbor significant proliferative potential ex vivo. However, their use for therapeutic intervention is limited due to several critical aspects of their complex biology. Recent insights based on mouse models have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the function of myogenic progenitors significantly. Moreover, the discovery of atypical myogenic cell types with the ability to cross the blood-muscle barrier has opened exciting new therapeutic avenues. In this paper, we outline the major problems that are currently associated with the manipulation of myogenic cells and discuss promising strategies to overcome these obstacles.

Wnt7a-Fzd7 signalling directly activates the Akt/mTOR anabolic growth pathway in skeletal muscle.

Wnt7a signals through its receptor Fzd7 to activate the planar-cell-polarity pathway and drive the symmetric expansion of satellite stem cells resulting in enhanced repair of skeletal muscle. In differentiated myofibres, we observed that Wnt7a binding to Fzd7 directly activates the Akt/mTOR growth pathway, thereby inducing myofibre hypertrophy. Notably, the Fzd7 receptor complex was associated with Gα(s) and PI(3)K and these components were required for Wnt7a to activate the Akt/mTOR growth pathway in myotubes. Wnt7a-Fzd7 activation of this pathway was completely independent of IGF-receptor activation. Together, these experiments demonstrate that Wnt7a-Fzd7 activates distinct pathways at different developmental stages during myogenic lineage progression, and identify a non-canonical anabolic signalling pathway for Wnt7a and its receptor Fzd7 in skeletal muscle.

Oxidative status of muscle is determined by p107 regulation of PGC-1alpha.

Mice lacking p107 exhibit a white adipose deficiency yet do not manifest the metabolic changes typical for lipodystrophy, and instead exhibit low levels of serum triglycerides and a normal liver phenotype. When fed a high fat diet, p107-null mice still did not accumulate fat in the liver, and display markedly elevated energy expenditures together with an increased energy preference for lipids. Skeletal muscle was therefore examined, as this is normally the major tissue involved in whole body lipid metabolism. Notably, p107-deficient muscle express increased levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha) and contained increased numbers of the pro-oxidative type I and type IIa myofibers. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed binding of p107 and E2F4 to the PGC-1alpha proximal promoter, and this binding repressed promoter activity in transient transcription assays. Ectopic expression of p107 in muscle tissue in vivo results in a pronounced 20% decrease in the numbers of oxidative type IIa myofibers. Lastly, isolated p107-deficient muscle tissue display a threefold increase in lipid metabolism. Therefore, p107 determines the oxidative state of multiple tissues involved in whole body fat metabolism, including skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle-specific ablation of raptor, but not of rictor, causes metabolic changes and results in muscle dystrophy.

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central controller of cell growth. mTOR assembles into two distinct multiprotein complexes called mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2. Here we show that the mTORC1 component raptor is critical for muscle function and prolonged survival. In contrast, muscles lacking the mTORC2 component rictor are indistinguishable from wild-type controls. Raptor-deficient muscles become progressively dystrophic, are impaired in their oxidative capacity, and contain increased glycogen stores, but they express structural components indicative of oxidative muscle fibers. Biochemical analysis indicates that these changes are probably due to loss of activation of direct downstream targets of mTORC1, downregulation of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, including PGC1alpha, and hyperactivation of PKB/Akt. Finally, we show that activation of PKB/Akt does not require mTORC2. Together, these results demonstrate that muscle mTORC1 has an unexpected role in the regulation of the metabolic properties and that its function is essential for life.