Skeletal muscle possesses a high ability to regenerate after an insult or in pathological conditions, relying on satellite cells, the skeletal muscle stem cells. Satellite cell behavior is tightly regulated by the surrounding microenvironment, which provides multiple signals derived from local cells and systemic factors. Among epigenetic mechanisms, histone deacetylation has been proved to affect muscle regeneration. Indeed, pan-histone deacetylase inhibitors were found to improve muscle regeneration, while deletion of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) in satellite cells inhibits their proliferation and differentiation, leading to compromised muscle regeneration. In this study, we delineated the HDAC4 function in adult skeletal muscle, following injury, by using a tissue-specific null mouse line. We showed that HDAC4 is crucial for skeletal muscle regeneration by mediating soluble factors that influence muscle-derived cell proliferation and differentiation. These findings add new biological functions to HDAC4 in skeletal muscle that need considering when administering histone deacetylase inhibitors.
Keywords: HDAC inhibitors; muscle regeneration; muscular dystrophies; satellite cells; soluble factors.