Muscle stem cell quiescence and heterogeneity

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Carmen Birchmeier; Professorin Dr. Simone Spuler
• Subject Area: Cell Biology ; Developmental Biology
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 283716387

Satellite cells, the stem cells of the adult skeletal muscle, provide the cellular source for muscle regeneration. While highly proliferative during early postnatal muscle growth, satellite cells become quiescent in the adult. In response to injury, satellite cells are activated and generate myoblasts for muscle repair, but a subpopulation self-renews to form new quiescent stem cells. Quiescent satellite cells have low metabolic rates and are stress resistant. We propose here to join efforts of French and German teams to identify the molecular mechanisms allowing the establishment/maintenance of quiescence in satellite cells, including human satellite cells, and during muscle regeneration. Furthermore, we will characterize satellite cell heterogeneity to define the as yet little understood resilient stem cell subpopulation that possesses high regenerative capacity. This ambitious and feasible project is based on ongoing collaborations as well as complementary expertise of French and German partners.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Partner Organisation: Agence Nationale de la Recherche / The French National Research Agency
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Frédéric Relaix, Ph.D.