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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

$Unfractionated Bulk Culture of Mouse Skeletal Muscle to Recapitulate Niche and Stem Cell Quiescence$

Unfractionated Bulk Culture of Mouse Skeletal Muscle to Recapitulate Niche and Stem Cell Quiescence

Published on: June 2, 2023

Telocytes within human skeletal muscle stem cell niche.

Florina M Bojin¹, Oana I Gavriliuc, Mirabela I Cristea

¹Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

|July 26, 2011

Summary

Human skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) include telocytes (TCs) that express c-kit/CD117 and VEGF. These unique TCs demonstrate significant proliferation and pluripotent potential, aiding muscle regeneration.

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$Unfractionated Bulk Culture of Mouse Skeletal Muscle to Recapitulate Niche and Stem Cell Quiescence$

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Isolation of Quiescent Stem Cell Populations from Individual Skeletal Muscles

Isolation of Quiescent Stem Cell Populations from Individual Skeletal Muscles

Published on: December 9, 2022

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Muscle Physiology
Stem Cell Research

Background:

Human skeletal muscle regeneration relies on heterogeneous muscle stem cells (MuSCs) within the muscle interstitium.
Understanding the specific cell types within the MuSC niche is crucial for regenerative medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

To characterize human muscle interstitial cells with telocyte (TC) morphology.
To investigate the properties and potential of c-kit/CD117 positive TCs within the MuSC niche.

Main Methods:

Immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence staining for c-kit/CD117 and VEGF.
Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) to isolate c-kit positive TCs.
In vitro cell culture, expansion, and analysis of proliferation and pluripotency markers (CD105, Ki67, Oct4).

Main Results:

Cells with TC morphology expressed c-kit/CD117 and VEGF.
Isolated c-kit positive TCs showed high proliferation (CD105+, Ki67+) and limited pluripotent capacity (Oct4+).
C-kit negative MuSCs displayed fibroblast morphology, low differentiation potential, and negative VEGF staining.

Conclusions:

C-kit/CD117 positive telocytes represent a distinct cell population within the human MuSC niche.
These TCs possess significant regenerative potential due to their proliferative and pluripotent characteristics.
VEGF expression in TCs suggests a role in supporting muscle tissue repair and vascularization.