Morphological evidence for telocytes as stromal cells supporting satellite cell activation in eccentric contraction-induced skeletal muscle injury

Sci Rep. 2019 Oct 10;9(1):14515. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51078-z.

Abstract

Although telocytes (TCs) have been proposed to play a "nursing" role in resident satellite cell (SC)-mediated skeletal muscle regeneration, currently there is no evidence of TC-SC morpho-functional interaction following tissue injury. Hence, we explored the presence of TCs and their relationship with SCs in an ex vivo model of eccentric contraction (EC)-induced muscle damage. EC-injured muscles showed structural/ultrastructural alterations and changes in electrophysiological sarcolemnic properties. TCs were identified in control and EC-injured muscles by either confocal immunofluorescence (i.e. CD34+CD31- TCs) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In EC-injured muscles, an extended interstitial network of CD34+ TCs/telopodes was detected around activated SCs displaying Pax7+ and MyoD+ nuclei. TEM revealed that TCs invaded the SC niche passing with their telopodes through a fragmented basal lamina and contacting the underlying activated SCs. TC-SC interaction after injury was confirmed in vitro by culturing single endomysial sheath-covered myofibers and sprouting TCs and SCs. EC-damaged muscle-derived TCs showed increased expression of the recognized pro-myogenic vascular endothelial growth factor-A, and SCs from the same samples exhibited increased MyoD expression and greater tendency to fuse into myotubes. Here, we provide the essential groundwork for further investigation of TC-SC interactions in the setting of skeletal muscle injury and regenerative medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism
  • Basement Membrane / cytology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Muscle Contraction*
  • Muscle Development
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / injuries*
  • MyoD Protein / metabolism
  • PAX7 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / cytology*
  • Stromal Cells / cytology
  • Telocytes / cytology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • MyoD Protein
  • MyoD1 myogenic differentiation protein
  • PAX7 Transcription Factor
  • Pax7 protein, mouse