Nature Communications (Jun 2017)

Bioengineered constructs combined with exercise enhance stem cell-mediated treatment of volumetric muscle loss

  • Marco Quarta,
  • Melinda Cromie,
  • Robert Chacon,
  • Justin Blonigan,
  • Victor Garcia,
  • Igor Akimenko,
  • Mark Hamer,
  • Patrick Paine,
  • Merel Stok,
  • Joseph B. Shrager,
  • Thomas A. Rando

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15613
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 17

Abstract

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Volumetric muscle loss leads to functional muscle impairment, and current stem cell-based treatments show limited efficacy. Here, the authors generate a stem cell scaffold, implant it in mice, and show that an exercise regimen enhances innervation and restoration of muscle function in mice.