Muscle Regeneration

January 12, 2012

Researchers have used reprogrammed human cells to create new muscle tissue in mice.

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Transcript

BOB HIRSHON (host):

Regrowing muscle… I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.

Our muscles can patch minor wounds, but with a major injury, scarring blocks the replacement of lost tissue.  Now, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the CellThera company in Massachusetts may have found a way around that.  Chris Malcuit of CellThera explains.

CHRIS MALCUIT (CellThera, Worcester, MA):

We found a new material called fibrin microthreads, which serve as a very nice delivery vehicle for putting new muscle cells into a wound site.  And at the same time, these microthreads cause a dramatic decrease in scar formation.

HIRSHON:

His team implanted the microthreads in mice with major muscle injuries.  Surprisingly, although the threads were seeded with human cells, the resulting muscles were composed mainly of mouse cells – suggesting the threads attracted the host’s own cells to rebuild new tissue. I’m Bob Hirshon for AAAS, the Science Society.