Loss of Tob1 promotes muscle regeneration through muscle stem cell expansion.

Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) play an indispensable role in postnatal muscle growth and hypertrophy in adult. MuSCs also retain a highly regenerative capacity and are therefore considered a promising stem cell source for regenerative therapy of muscle diseases. In this study, we identify tumor-suppressor protein Tob1 as a Pax7-target gene that negatively controls the population expansion of MuSCs. Tob1 protein is undetectable in the quiescent state but is upregulated during activation in MuSCs. Tob1 ablation in mice accelerates MuSC population expansion and boosts muscle regeneration. Moreover, inactivation of Tob1 in MuSCs ameliorates the efficiency of MuSC transplantation in a murine muscular dystrophy model. Collectively, selective targeting of Tob1 may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of muscular diseases, including muscular dystrophy and age-related sarcopenia.