Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
FACS-Isolation and Culture of Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors and Muscle Stem Cells from Unperturbed and Injured Mouse Skeletal Muscle
Published on: June 8, 2022
Protocol for the isolation of mouse muscle stem cells using fluorescence-activated cell sorting
Gabriel Elizalde1, Alma Zuniga Munoz1, Albert E Almada1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Abstract:
Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are the building blocks for regenerating skeletal muscle after trauma. If we intend to maximize the therapeutic potential of MuSCs, we must further study their molecular and functional properties. Here, we present a protocol for the isolation of mouse MuSCs via a two-step enzymatic and mechanical dissociation of skeletal muscle coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). FACS-isolated MuSCs can be used for various downstream applications including cell culture, cell transduction, immunofluorescence, and gene expression assays. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Almada et al. (2021).1.
