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Updated: Nov 9, 2025
Author Spotlight: Decellularization-Based Quantification of Skeletal Muscle Fatty Infiltration
Published on: June 9, 2023
Targeting intramuscular adipose tissue expansion to preserve contractile function in volumetric muscle loss: A
Ahmed Al Saedi1, Gustavo Duque1, Nicole Stupka1
1Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St. Albans, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine-Western Health, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, St. Albans, VIC, Australia.
Abstract:
In volumetric muscle loss (VML), the severity of trauma exceeds a muscle's regenerative capacity. VML causes permanent functional impairments for which there are no rehabilitative, pharmacological, or regenerative medicine interventions. Driving failed regeneration in VML is a hostile microenvironment characterized by heightened inflammation, fibrosis, and denervation, which may reduce the remaining muscle tissue's quality, and stimulate intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) expansion. IMAT is increased in various muscle disease states, and has known lipotoxic effects on regeneration and contractile function. The contribution of ectopic fat deposition to the hostile VML microenvironment at the injury site and in the remaining tissue warrants further investigation. Targeting IMAT may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for improving functional outcomes in VML.
