Abstract

Neuromuscular Diseases: How Could Stem Cells Help?

Masatoshi Suzuki, Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Biosciences and Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Neuromuscular diseases are caused by functional defects of skeletal muscles via muscle pathology or indirectly via the nervous system. Extensive studies have been performed to improve the outcomes of therapies; however, there is still a crucial need for effective treatments in order to counteract muscle degeneration and neuromuscular denervation in such conditions. Human pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, have a great capacity to differentiate into skeletal muscle progenitor/stem cells (also known as myogenic progenitors) for use in treating and modeling neuromuscular diseases. This presentation summarizes current progress of stem cell applications for therapeutic development in neuromuscular diseases, specifically focusing on advantages and limitations of iPS cells.