In a study conducted at Stanford University School of Medicine, researchers found out the communication lines of the stem cells of the muscles weaken as the body ages. As such, injured muscles take a long time to heal. The said researchers have discovered a medium in order for muscle stem cells to receive work orders for repair. The solution to this is a protein that was traditionally responsible for promoting maintenance and proliferation of stem cells in many tissues called Wnt. When such protein is found in damaged or aging cells, it blocks proper communication.
When a research deals with tissues, a good instrument to observe such specimen is a microscope for phase contrast. With its high contrast features, ongoing biological processes can be observed under this microscope for phase contrast since living cells can be examined at their natural state. A microscope for phase contrast displays a wide spectrum of specimen comparison and background intensity.
According to Thomas Rando, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences, they were surprised with the finding because Wnt was originally thought to have no adverse effects on stem cell function. However, their study has discovered that such protein has negative effects. He further remarked that there are many drugs available that can block Wnt signaling and may be used to treat aged tissues. He also stated that such treatment is not limited to muscle deterioration. Potential benefits may be extended to any tissue in which stem cells are able to contribute to the normal turnover of cells.
The said discovery was made while the Stanford group was studying the environmental effects on muscle stem cell activity. Furthermore, the researchers also found out that aging muscle stem cells have the capacity for repairing severely damaged tissues when placed in a young environment of cells. While the group was testing on how young muscle stem cells react when placed in an aged environment, they discovered the negative effects of the Wnt protein. Moreover, they were able to prove that the young muscle stem cells were negatively influenced by their aged environment. As such, the discoveries corroborated a previous study they conducted on the dependence of muscle stem cells to their environment for regeneration.
Another discovery was that the muscle stem cells that failed to generate in old environment were differentiating into fibroblasts that were scar tissue producing cells. Such cells were not just able to receive repair instructions. They were even producing cells that very erroneous. As such, instead of producing muscle cells or myoblasts, so called scar cells were being produced to make up scar tissues or fibrosis. Rando further remarked that such fibrosis is the same type found occuring on muscle dystrophy.
The Wnt protein also unexpectedly made an appearance at the studies conducted by the National Institute of Health. The said group was studying the effects of a deficiency of a hormone called klotho, which is responsible for extreme aging. The NIH group found out that klotho hormone restrains Wnt. Since klotho production decreases with age, the effectiveness of the hormone to fight Wnt also decreases. This results to the disruption of the normal signaling among stem cells.Continue research on this page