Newsroom

Researchers reveal the circuitry regulating muscle stem cell function


October 2, 2019

Dr. Michael Rudnicki“The identification of MLL1 as a factor acting upstream of PAX7 is an important advance in understanding muscle stem cell biology,” -Dr. Michael Rudnicki, senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and professor at the University of OttawaMuscles have a fantastic ability to heal themselves, thanks to pools of muscle stem cells that respond to damage. Drs. Caroline Brun and Gregory Addicks in Dr. Michael Rudnicki’s group discovered that a regulatory protein called MLL1 plays a key role in this process. When a muscle is injured, the stem cells are activated to either make new muscle cells or to make more stem cells to replenish the pool. This process is controlled by proteins like the transcription factor PAX7, which instructs stem cells to replenish the pool. The researchers found that MLL1 directly regulates the levels of PAX7, providing new insight into the regulatory circuits that control muscle stem cell biology. Deleting the MLL1 enzyme in mice depleted the pool of stem cells, and significantly reduced muscle regeneration. This work may provide insight for future therapies to treat muscle diseases.

“The identification of MLL1 as a factor acting upstream of PAX7 is an important advance in understanding muscle stem cell biology,” said Dr. Michael Rudnicki, senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and professor at the University of Ottawa

Authors: Gregory C. Addicks, Caroline E. Brun, Marie-Claude Sincennes, John Saber, Christopher J. Porter, A. Francis Stewart, Patricia Ernst, Michael A. Rudnicki

Source: Nature Communications

Core Facilities: Bioinformatics, Flow Cytometry, StemCore.

The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion 

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.

University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas

The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

Media Contact

Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca