Interpretive Summary: The initial delay to mitotic activity in primary cultures of equine satellite cells is reduced by combinations of growth factors

By: Madison R Barshick, Madison L Gonzalez, Nicolas I Busse, Patricia J Helsel, Sally E Johnson

Satellite cells are the resident stem cells found within skeletal muscle. Following strenuous exercise, the cells become mitotically active to supply progenitors for muscle repair. The signals responsible for their exit from the dormant state are largely unknown. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are located within the local environment postexercise suggesting their involvement in mitotic activation. Treatment of satellite cells in vitro with optimal concentrations of HGF, FGF2, or IGF-I did not affect transition into the cell cycle. By contrast, inclusion of all three growth factors in the media caused an increase in the numbers of activated satellite cells. The combination of factors suppressed expression of myogenin, the requisite transcriptional mediator of differentiation. Although IGF-I stimulates myogenin expression in other muscle cell types, a similar response was not observed in equine satellite cells. These results support a role for HGF, FGF2, and IGF-I during the initial postexercise repair period in horses.