Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
07:01
Direct Mouse Trauma/Burn Model of Heterotopic Ossification
Published on: August 6, 2015
Putative heterotopic ossification progenitor cells derived from traumatized muscle
Wesley M Jackson1, Amber B Aragon, Jamie D Bulken-Hoover
1Cartilage Biology and Orthopaedics Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Summary
Mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) from injured muscle can form bone, contributing to heterotopic ossification (HO). These cells show osteogenic potential similar to bone marrow stem cells, but may not fully differentiate.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common complication after combat trauma, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- Mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) have been identified in traumatically injured muscle tissue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the osteogenic potential of muscle-derived MPCs.
- To assess the role of these MPCs in the pathogenesis of traumatic HO.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of osteogenic differentiation and gene expression between muscle-derived MPCs and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
- Osteogenic induction of MPCs and analysis of alkaline phosphatase activity, matrix mineralization, and gene expression (CBFA1, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin).
Main Results:
- Muscle-derived MPCs demonstrated increased alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization upon osteogenic induction.
- Expression of osteoblast-associated genes CBFA1 and alkaline phosphatase was upregulated in MPCs, but osteocalcin expression was not significantly increased, suggesting incomplete terminal differentiation.
- The overall osteogenic gene expression profile of MPCs was comparable to MSCs, with some gene-specific exceptions.
Conclusions:
- Traumatized muscle-derived MPCs possess osteoprogenitor potential and can differentiate into bone-forming cells when provided with a suitable biochemical environment.
- These MPCs are likely the key cellular initiators of ectopic bone formation in heterotopic ossification following trauma.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy
Satellite stem cells or myosatellite cells are quiescent stem cells that Alexander Mauro first identified in 1961. These cells are located between the sarcolemma, the plasma membrane of muscle fibers, and the basal lamina, the connective tissue sheath covering it. These mononucleated cells are activated in response to muscle injury, can transform into myoblasts, and may form or repair muscle fibers. Myosatellite cells can provide additional myonuclei for muscle regeneration or return to a...
01:30Bone Cells and Tissue
Bones contain a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of organic and inorganic components. Although bone cells compose only a small amount of the bone volume, they are crucial to its function. Four types of cells are found within the bone tissue— osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteogenic cells, and osteoclasts.
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the periosteum and...
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the periosteum and...
01:13Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts
De novo myogenesis, or the formation of muscle fibers, begins during the early embryonic stages. The skeletal muscle is formed from somites– blocks of embryonic cell layers. The somites are further divided into dermatomes, myotomes, sclerotomes, and syndetomes. Among these, the myotomes give rise to muscle fibers.
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription factors...
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription factors...
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...