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ContactMuscle stem cells - Dr P. Zammit
Group/Researcher: Dr P. Zammit
Muscle is made up of thousands of muscle cells, the so called muscle fibres and their growth, repair and regeneration is carried out by a particular type of stem cells, the satellite cells. These satellite cells remain in a dormant state most of the time and only become active when they are needed, for instance after a muscle is injured. When they become activated, they not only produce new muscle cells but also renew themselves to maintain their own population.
Muscular dystrophies comprise 34 different conditions and they are characterised by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. Hence the satellite cells continuously repair the degenerating muscle, but this process becomes gradually less efficient. In Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and one form of Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophy the satellite cells are directly affected.
Satellite cells have been the subject of a great deal of research in recent years. Theoretically, manipulation of satellite cells could improve muscle function or the transplant of these cells into the muscle of individuals affected by muscular dystrophies might help to slow the progression of the condition by once again allowing regeneration and repair of the damaged muscle. In order to determine if satellite cells could be used as a therapy, it is important to know if all satellite cells behave in the same way, and if not, what the differences between the sub-populations are. By doing this it will be possible to determine if certain satellite cell sub-populations are more capable of self renewal or more suitable for transplant than others.
Dr Peter Zammit hopes to address these issues in this three year project. Using time lapse photography and a cell-sorting technique called flow cytometry, he will study the satellite cells to determine what the sub-populations are. Dr Zammit will be looking for differences in behaviour, for instance ability to self-renew, and gene expression. Finally, he will be investigating satellite cells from dystrophic muscle to investigate what differs between these cells and satellite cells from healthy muscle.
By learning more about satellite cells and their properties, it will become clear whether these can be used as a therapeutic approach in muscular dystrophies.
Value of Grant: Year 1 - £60,094
Muscle is made up of thousands of muscle cells, the so called muscle fibres and their growth, repair and regeneration is carried out by a particular type of stem cells, the satellite cells. These satellite cells remain in a dormant state most of the time and only become active when they are needed, for instance after a muscle is injured. When they become activated, they not only produce new muscle cells but also renew themselves to maintain their own population.
Muscular dystrophies comprise 34 different conditions and they are characterised by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. Hence the satellite cells continuously repair the degenerating muscle, but this process becomes gradually less efficient. In Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and one form of Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophy the satellite cells are directly affected.
Satellite cells have been the subject of a great deal of research in recent years. Theoretically, manipulation of satellite cells could improve muscle function or the transplant of these cells into the muscle of individuals affected by muscular dystrophies might help to slow the progression of the condition by once again allowing regeneration and repair of the damaged muscle. In order to determine if satellite cells could be used as a therapy, it is important to know if all satellite cells behave in the same way, and if not, what the differences between the sub-populations are. By doing this it will be possible to determine if certain satellite cell sub-populations are more capable of self renewal or more suitable for transplant than others.
Dr Peter Zammit hopes to address these issues in this three year project. Using time lapse photography and a cell-sorting technique called flow cytometry, he will study the satellite cells to determine what the sub-populations are. Dr Zammit will be looking for differences in behaviour, for instance ability to self-renew, and gene expression. Finally, he will be investigating satellite cells from dystrophic muscle to investigate what differs between these cells and satellite cells from healthy muscle.
By learning more about satellite cells and their properties, it will become clear whether these can be used as a therapeutic approach in muscular dystrophies.
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