The Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cell: The Stem Cell That Came in From the Cold

Abstract

The muscle satellite cell was first described and actually named on the basis of its anatomic location under the basement membrane surrounding each myofiber. For many years following its discovery, electron microscopy provided the only definitive method of identification. More recently, several molecular markers have been described that can be used to detect satellite cells, making them more accessible for study at the light microscope level. Satellite cells supply myonuclei to growing myofibers before becoming mitotically quiescent in muscle as it matures. They are then activated from this quiescent state to fulfill their roles in routine maintenance, hypertrophy, and repair of adult muscle. Because muscle is able to efficiently regenerate after repeated bouts of damage, systems must be in place to maintain a viable satellite cell pool, and it was proposed over 30 years ago that self-renewal cell was the primary mechanism. Self-renewal entails either a stochastic event or an asymmetrical division, where one daughter cell is committed to differentiation whereas the second continues to proliferate or becomes quiescent. This classic model of satellite cell self-renewal and the importance of satellite cells in muscle maintenance and repair have been challenged during the past few years as bone marrow-derived cells and various intramuscular populations were shown to be able to contribute myonuclei and occupy the satellite cell niche. This is a fast-moving and dynamic field, however, and in this review we discuss the evidence that we think puts this enigmatic cell firmly back at the center of adult myogenesis. (J Histochem Cytochem 54:1177-1191, 2006)

Comprehensive proteome analysis of human skeletal muscle in cachexia and sarcopenia: a pilot study

“…Skeletal muscle develops from mono‐nucleated myoblasts into multi‐nucleated myotubes which then mature into myofibres, a process termed myogenesis 1. Once development is complete, skeletal muscles are essential for locomotion and respiration 2.…”

Sera from young and older humans equally sustain proliferation and differentiation of human myoblasts

“…Satellite cells fit the criteria for a stem cell (Zammit et al 2006) and once detached from their anatomical location are usually referred to as myoblasts. These cells play an integral role in the repair and adaptation of muscle.…”

“…Myf5, MyoD, desmin), then terminally differentiate by withdrawing from the cell cycle and fusing with existing myofibres for repair and adaptation (Zammit et al 2006). …”

Influence of Mesterolone on Satellite Cell Distribution and Fiber Morphology within Maturing Chicken Pectoralis Muscle

“…Satellite cells (SCs) are mononuclear myogenic adult stem cells that reside between the basal lamina and plasmalemma of the skeletal muscle fiber (Mauro, 1961;Zammit et al, 2006;Allouh et al, 2008). They are responsible for postnatal muscle growth, repair, and regeneration (Zammit et al, 2006).…”

“…They are responsible for postnatal muscle growth, repair, and regeneration (Zammit et al, 2006). Normally, SCs are quiescent in mature skeletal muscle (Hawke and Garry, 2001;Morgan and Partridge, 2003).…”