Houston Daily

Researchers at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy have identified a potential therapeutic target for muscular disorders. The discovery centers around the protein Fn14 and its role in regulating satellite cell stability and function, as detailed in their study published in JCI Insight.

Led by Ashok Kumar, Else and Philip Hargrove Endowed Professor of Drug Discovery and director of the Institute of Muscle Biology and Cachexia, the team explored how Fn14 affects muscle stem cells, known as satellite cells. These cells are crucial for muscle growth, repair, and regeneration.

“Our research highlights how Fn14 helps in preserving muscle stem cells and ensuring efficient muscle regeneration,” said Meiricris Tomaz da Silva, a post-doctoral fellow in Kumar’s lab and the paper’s first author. “By better understanding this mechanism, we can explore new ways to support muscle repair in conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and age-related muscle loss.”

The study showed that Fn14 levels increase in satellite cells after muscle injury. This is significant because reduced satellite cell content contributes to skeletal muscle wasting seen in aging and degenerative disorders like muscular dystrophy.

“We have discovered the role of fibroblast growth factor–inducible 14 (Fn14) in the regulation of skeletal muscle regeneration in response to acute injury and in a model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy,” reports Kumar. “The study shows that Fn14 is important for maintaining muscle stem cell pool in adult skeletal muscle.”

Further findings from Kumar's previous studies published in Life Science Alliance indicate that Fn14 signaling is vital for multiplying early-stage progenitor cells that form new muscles. This process aids repair by allowing these cells to fuse with injured fibers.

“Our findings suggest that augmenting the levels of Fn14 in satellite cells could be an important therapeutic approach for various muscle wasting conditions, such as aging and degenerative muscle disorders,” said Kumar.

“These findings deepen our understanding of muscle stem cells and could inform future strategies to enhance muscle regeneration in conditions involving chronic muscle loss.”