Satellite cells to generate more muscle cells

Satellite cells are adult stem cells found in muscle tissue that divide in response to injury to generate both more stem cells and new muscle cells. Scientists supported by the NIH recently identified a molecular signaling pathway that “turns on” these cells’ muscle forming processes&emdash;that is, it causes the satellite cells to generate more muscle cells. The pathway, known as the Wnt signaling pathway, is now a potential target for drug development to treat muscle wasting diseases.
( Polesskaya et al., Cell 113:841&endash;852, 2003)