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Endothelial cells within embryonic skeletal muscles: a potential source of myogenic progenitors

Fabien Le Grand1, Gwenola Auda-Boucher, Dmitri Levitsky

  • 1CNRS UMR 6204, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France.

Experimental Cell Research
|November 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Embryonic muscle endothelial cells, marked by CD34 and Flk1, can differentiate into skeletal muscle cells. These cells, when transplanted, restore dystrophin expression in mdx mouse muscles.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Cell biology
  • Stem cell research

Background:

  • Identifying sources of myogenic progenitors is crucial for muscle regeneration therapies.
  • Endothelial cells are increasingly recognized for their potential plasticity.
  • The specific origin and potential of embryonic muscle endothelial cells remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if endothelial cells within mouse embryonic muscles can serve as myogenic progenitors.
  • To characterize the properties and myogenic potential of these cells.

Main Methods:

  • Immunodetection of CD34 and Flk1 stem cell markers in developing mouse embryo muscles.
  • Purification of CD34-positive cells using magnetic-bead selection.
  • Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for cell characterization.
  • In vitro differentiation assays and in vivo transplantation into mdx mouse models.

Main Results:

  • CD34 and Flk1 markers were restricted to vessel-associated endothelial cells in embryonic muscles.
  • Purified CD34+/Flk1+ cells differentiated into both endothelial cells and skeletal myofibers in vitro.
  • Transplanted cells dispersed, fused with host myofibers, and restored dystrophin expression in mdx mouse muscles.

Conclusions:

  • Embryonic muscle endothelial cells possess myogenic potential and can differentiate into skeletal myofibers.
  • These cells are a promising candidate for cell-based therapies in muscular dystrophies.
  • Their myogenic capacity may stem from their somitic origin.

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