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.
This study details a protocol for isolating mouse muscle stem cells (MuSCs) using enzymatic and mechanical dissociation followed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). This method yields pure MuSCs for various research applications, advancing skeletal muscle regeneration studies.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are crucial for skeletal muscle regeneration following injury.
- Understanding MuSC properties is key to unlocking their therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a reliable protocol for isolating mouse MuSCs.
- To enable downstream applications for studying MuSC function and molecular characteristics.
Main Methods:
- A two-step protocol involving enzymatic and mechanical dissociation of skeletal muscle.
- Purification of MuSCs using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
Main Results:
- Successful isolation of viable mouse MuSCs.
- Demonstration of FACS-isolated MuSCs' suitability for diverse downstream assays.
Conclusions:
- The presented protocol provides a robust method for obtaining pure MuSCs.
- This facilitates further investigation into MuSC biology and therapeutic applications in muscle repair.
