Alternative method
Muscles can recover quickly independently of stem cells.
Tatiana Matveeva, "Scientific Russia"
Researchers from Spain and Portugal describe a new mechanism of muscle recovery after injury, based on the restructuring of the nuclei of muscle fibers, without the participation of muscle stem cells. This protective mechanism opens the way to a broader understanding of muscle recovery, including in diseases, the press service of the University of Pompeu Fabra (Spain) reports. The results of the study are published in the journal Science (Roman et al., Muscle repair after physiological damage relies on nuclear migration for cellular reconstruction).
Skeletal muscle tissue is formed by cells (fibers) containing more than one nucleus, which is almost a unique feature of our body. Despite the plasticity of these fibers, their contraction may be associated with muscle damage. "Even under physiological conditions, regeneration is vital for muscles to withstand the mechanical stress of contraction, which often leads to cell damage," explains William Roman of Pompeu Fabra University, the first author of the study. "Although muscle regeneration has been deeply studied in recent decades, most research has focused on mechanisms involving multiple cells, including muscle stem cells, which are necessary for extensive muscle damage."
In this work, researchers have discovered an alternative mechanism for muscle tissue repair, which does not involve muscle stem cells. Scientists used various models of injuries in vitro, observing how the nuclei are attracted to the site of injury. Laboratory experiments with cells have shown that the movement of nuclei to the sites of damage led to the local delivery of matrix RNA molecules. These molecules are translated into proteins at the site of injury to act as building blocks for muscle repair. This process of self-healing of muscle fibers occurs quickly in both mice and humans after muscle injuries caused by physical exertion, and thus represents an effective protective mechanism for healing minor injuries: it proceeds quickly and does not require a large amount of energy.
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