Gene and cell therapy for muscle regeneration

Roberta Sessa Stilhano; Leonardo Martins; Sheila Jean McNeill Ingham; João Bosco Pesquero; Johnny Huard

doi:10.1007/s12178-015-9268-9

Gene and cell therapy for muscle regeneration

Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015 Jun;8(2):182-187. doi: 10.1007/s12178-015-9268-9.

Authors

Roberta Sessa Stilhano^#¹, Leonardo Martins^#¹, Sheila Jean McNeill Ingham², João Bosco Pesquero¹, Johnny Huard³

Affiliations

¹ Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP, Rua Mirassol, 207 - Vila Clementino, 04044-010 São Paulo, Brazil.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Skeletal muscle injury and healing are multifactorial processes, involving three steps of healing: (1) degeneration and inflammation, (2) regeneration, and (3) fibrosis. Fibrous tissue hinders the muscle's complete recovery and current therapies fail in achieving total muscle recovery. Gene and cell therapy (or both) are potential future treatments for severe muscular injuries. Stem cells' properties associated with growth factors or/and cytokines can improve muscle healing and permit long-term recovery.