BM stem cell transplantation rescues pathophysiologic features of aged dystrophic mdx muscle.

 
Date:  March 25, 2007

Yu M, Zhang C, Zhang Y, Feng S, Yao X, Lu X.

Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: The value of transplantation of BM stem cells in aged (12-month-old) mdx was evaluated because it is thought to be a more ideal model for studying the praxiology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The possible mechanisms of stem cell differentiation were then discussed. METHODS: BM was isolated from 8-10-week-old male C57 BL/10 mice. After injecting BM cells into 12-month-old female mdx mice through the tail vein, the expression of dystrophin and MyoD was detected at different time points by immunofluorescence staining, RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: The C57 male mice donor-specific and Y-chromosome-specific sequence could be detected in all female aged mdx mice, implying the success of the transplantation. Expression of dystrophin and MyoD was detected and increased over time. 

DISCUSSION:   BM cells were recruited to the muscle and partially restored specific pathophysiologic features of the dystrophic muscle in aged mdx mice. Muscle differentiation of BM cells recapitulated embryonic myogenesis.