Molecular mechanisms implicated in myogenic differentiation of human alveolar mucosa derived cells

Different approaches of skeletal muscle cell regeneration originated from progenitor cells are extensively studied under the strategies of muscle tissue pathologies treatment. Recently it was discovered that anatomically localized alveolar mucosa multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (AMC) are characterized by myogenic potential and high feasibility for muscle tissue recovery and regeneration. Although the resulting multinuclear myotubes are featured by expressing skeletal muscle specific markers (skeletal myosin, actin, myogenin and MyoD1) the exact molecular mechanism controlling differentiation of AMC in myogenic direction is still unclear and poorly scrutinized. In this research we used combination of large-scale transcriptome analysis and bioinformatics approach to appreciate molecular pathways and crucial nodes responsible for myogenic differentiation. Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSC) were isolated from alveolar mucosa (AMC), attached gingiva (AGC) and skeletal muscle (SMC) biopsy samples, and skin fibroblasts from the skin. AMC and SMC were subjected to myogenic differentiation. High throughput transcriptional profiling of undifferentiated AMC, AGC, SMC, differentiated AMC and SMC, and skin fibroblasts was performed to elucidate molecular pathways accompanying myogenic differentiation.