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At the University of California at Los Angeles, researchers have combined forskolin, a compound extracted from the root of the Indian Coleus plant, and RepSox, a drug-like molecule made in the human body, in a blend that can spark the growth of new muscle tissue.
The cocktail ignites the massive, rapid growth of muscle stem cells. The results are dramatic within ten days, the scientists reported.
The technique tapped cells in skin, called dermal myogenic cells, that can become muscle cells. Doping the cells with the chemical mix set them to producing muscle stem cells that could be transplanted.
Mice with muscle injuries, and also elderly mice experiencing muscle-wasting due to age, were infused with the stem cells. After a month, the stem cells had integrated into the weakened tissues and significantly improved the muscles’ ability to work normally.
In another test, the chemical pair was encased in biodegradable nanoparticle “bags” injected directly into damaged areas. The bags broke down and released the chemicals, which spurred the affected muscles to begin making new tissue.
Next, the developers will conduct longer tests on mice and begin experiments with human muscle cells.
TRENDPOST: The discovery could result in a therapy for muscular dystrophy and, more broadly, address the muscle loss typical of old age, creating yet another tool to delay and defy one aspect of the decline associated with aging.