Disclosed herein are methods for generating satellite cells and compositions including satellite cells.

There are provided compositions and methods for modulating stem cell division decisions, in particular, division symmetry. It has been demonstrated that wnt7a acts through frizzled-7 receptor expressed on the surface of adult stem cells, e.g. satellite stem cells, to activate the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway, thereby promoting symmetrical expansion of stem cells. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful, for example, in modulating stem cell division symmetry in vitro and in vivo, in replenishing and expanding the stem cell pool, and in promoting the formation, maintenance, repair and regeneration of tissue.

An isolated muscle progenitor cell being MyoD positive, CD34 negative and CD45 negative is disclosed. The muscle progenitor cell is genetically modified to express at least one neurotrophic factor. In addition, cell populations are disclosed, comprising at least four subpopulations of muscle cells each being genetically modified to express a different neurotrophic factor, wherein said neurotrophic factor is selected from the group consisting of glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), insulin growth factor (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Uses of the cell populations are also disclosed.

The invention is directed to a method for producing an edible composition, comprising incubating a three-dimensional porous scaffold and a plurality of cell types comprising: myoblasts or progenitor cells thereof, at least one type of extracellular (ECM)-secreting cell and endothelial cells or progenitor cells thereof, and inducing myoblasts differentiation into myotubes.

The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment non-soft tissue following introduction (e.g. via injection, transplantation, or implantation) into a site of non-soft tissue (e.g. bone). Also provided are methods of isolating muscle-derived progenitor cells, and methods of genetically modifying the cells for gene transfer therapy. The invention further provides methods of using compositions comprising muscle-derived progenitor cells for the augmentation and bulking of mammalian, including human, bone tissues in the treatment of various functional conditions, including osteoporosis, Paget's Disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, bone fracture, osteomalacia, decrease in bone trabecular strength, decrease in bone cortical strength and decrease in bone density with old age.

The present invention relates to the field of muscle regeneration, and more particularly to the replenishment of the in vivo muscle stem cells pool. It more specifically relates to a 5-hydroxytryptamine B1 receptor-stimulating agent, and to a composition comprising said agent, for use as i) a promoter of satellite cells self-renewal and/or differentiation, and/or ii) an agent preventing and/or inhibiting the satellite cells pool exhaustion. The invention further encompasses therapeutic and screening methods.

The invention solves the problem of providing new therapies that are effective in the treatment of muscular dystrophies through the use of compositions comprising a compound capable of reducing the expression of miRNA-106b in muscle satellite stem cells of a human or animal subject with respect to the expression observed in the absence of the compound in said cells.

The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment non-soft tissue following introduction (e.g. via injection, transplantation, or implantation) into a site of non-soft tissue (e.g. bone) when combined with a biocompatible matrix, preferably SIS. The invention further provides methods of using compositions comprising muscle-derived progenitor cells with a biocompatible matrix for the augmentation and bulking of mammalian, including human, bone tissues in the treatment of various functional conditions, including osteoporosis, Paget's Disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, bone fracture, osteomalacia, decrease in bone trabecular strength, decrease in bone cortical strength and decrease in bone density with old age.

A serum-free and animal-component-free culture media for expansion of muscle satellite cells is disclosed. The disclosed media can be for use in cultured food applications. The disclosed media can include a baseline serum-free and animal component-free culture media and a recombinant version of albumin. The baseline media, in use, provides a baseline growth capability for expansion of the muscle satellite cells for use in cultured food applications. The disclosed media, in use, provides an improved growth capability for expansion of the muscle satellite cells. The improved growth capability is at least 50% greater than the baseline growth capability. Methods of making and using the disclosed media are also disclosed.

Methods and compositions for somatic cell proliferation as well as increasing viability of somatic cells are provided. The compositions include heparin binding protein isolated from a medium conditioned by growth of pluripotent stem cells, such as, human embryonic stem cells, human embryonic carcinoma cells. The methods include contacting a somatic cell with a heparin binding protein composition for a sufficient period of time to provide for enhanced proliferation and/or viability of the somatic cell as compared to the absence of the heparin binding protein composition.