Research Progress on the Heterogeneity, Proliferation, Differentiation Regulation Mechanisms, and Applications of Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells in Livestock and Poultry
JIANG Zhe-Yi, WEN Chao-Liang, GU Shuang, YANG Ning*
College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Abstract：Skeletal muscle satellite cells are myogenic stem cells situated between the plasmalemma and basal lamina of muscle fibers. As the key cellular component for muscle regeneration, they play a central role in muscle injury repair. These cells exhibit remarkable heterogeneity, which manifests in diverse gene expression profiles, spatial distributions, and differentiation potentials. Satellite cells are quiescent under physiological conditions. However, upon muscle injury or external stimuli, they rapidly activate, proliferate, and differentiate to initiate muscle repair. A thorough understanding of the functional characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of satellite cells not only elucidates the genetic basis of muscle development but also provides theoretical support for improving meat quality and preventing muscle diseases in farm animals. This review summarizes the biological features and functions of skeletal muscle satellite cells, with a detailed introduction to research strategies including in vitro co-culture and omics technologies applied in satellite cell studies. It focuses on their heterogeneity and the regulatory network of proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, this review summarizes the relevant research progress and provides an outlook for the field of farm animals, thereby offering a reference for a deeper understanding of muscle growth and meat quality improvement in livestock and poultry.
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