The Combined Use of Losartan and Muscle-Derived Stem Cells Significantly Improves the Functional Recovery of Muscle in a Young Mouse Model of Contusion Injuries

Conclusion: When compared with MDSCs alone, the simultaneous treatment of muscle contusions with MDSCs and losartan significantly reduced scar formation, increased the number of regenerating myofibers, and improved the functional recovery of muscle; these effects were caused, at least in part, by the losartan-mediated upregulation of Smad7 and MyoD. Increased levels of Smad7 and MyoD together reduced the deposition of scar tissue (via the inhibition of TGF-β1 by Smad7) and committed the transplanted MDSCs toward a myogenic lineage (via Smad7-regulated MyoD expression). Clinical Relevance: The study findings contribute to the development of biological treatments to accelerate and improve the quality of muscle healing after injury.
Source: The American Journal of Sports Medicine - Category: Sports Medicine Authors: Tags: Cell/Molecular biology, Growth factors/Healing enhancement, Muscle physiology, Stem cell therapy, Muscle injuries Biology and Translational Research Source Type: research