Wang YJ, Chen ZH, Shen YT, Wang KX, Han YM, Zhang C, Yang XM, Chen BQ. Stem cell therapy: A promising therapeutic approach for skeletal muscle atrophy. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(2): 98693 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i2.98693]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Bing-Qian Chen, MD, Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 1 Shuyuan Street, Changshu 215500, Jiangsu Province, China. cbq0433@suda.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Sport Sciences
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Ying-Jie Wang, Ze-Hao Chen, Yun-Tian Shen, Ke-Xin Wang, Chen Zhang, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong 226000, Jiangsu Province, China
Yi-Min Han, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong 226000, Jiangsu Province, China
Xiao-Ming Yang, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong 226000, Jiangsu Province, China
Xiao-Ming Yang, Research and Development Center for E-Learning, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100816, China
Bing-Qian Chen, Department of Orthopaedics, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changshu 215500, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Ying-Jie Wang and Ze-Hao Chen.
Author contributions: Wang YJ and Chen ZH contributed equally to write the paper and are co-first authors of this manuscript; Shen YT modified the manuscript; Wang KX, Han YM, Zhang C, and Yang XM provided data; Chen BQ designed the review and were responsible for the final proofreading; and all authors have read and approve the final manuscript.
Supported by Suzhou Science and Technology Development Planning Project, No. SYW2024048; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81901933; and Major Natural Science Research Projects in Universities of Jiangsu Province, No. 24KJA310007.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Bing-Qian Chen, MD, Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 1 Shuyuan Street, Changshu 215500, Jiangsu Province, China. cbq0433@suda.edu.cn
Received: July 4, 2024 Revised: December 9, 2024 Accepted: January 23, 2025 Published online: February 26, 2025 Processing time: 234 Days and 22.6 Hours
Abstract
Skeletal muscle atrophy results from disruptions in the growth and metabolism of striated muscle, leading to a reduction or loss of muscle fibers. This condition not only significantly impacts patients’ quality of life but also imposes substantial socioeconomic burdens. The complex molecular mechanisms driving skeletal muscle atrophy contribute to the absence of effective treatment options. Recent advances in stem cell therapy have positioned it as a promising approach for addressing this condition. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy and outlines current therapeutic strategies, focusing on mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and their derivatives. Additionally, the challenges these stem cells face in clinical applications are discussed. A deeper understanding of the regenerative potential of various stem cells could pave the way for breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy.
Core Tip: Muscle atrophy can exert a considerable influence on the quality of life of patients. The intricate molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy give rise to a scarcity of effective treatment options. Recent advancements in stem cell therapy imply that it is a promising solution to this problem. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy, presents current treatment strategies with a focus on mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and their derivatives. Finally, it discusses the challenges encountered in the clinical application of these stem cells.
