Résumé :
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Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have a self-renewal capacity and can differentiate into all cells find in the body. For this reason, they represent an unlimited source of cells for the treatment of degenerative disease, such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Previous studies have reported the derivation of skeletal muscle cells from hESC but the techniques used in these studies were long and had a low efficiency. Here we report a new method to differentiate hESC into skeletal muscle cells using an adenovirus expressing the master gene MyoD under the CAG promoter (Ad.CAGMyoD). This adenovirus is very efficient and five days after the infection nearly 50% of the cells stained positive for desmin, a well know myogenic marker. Immunochemistry also confirmed that these cells expressed MyoD. Thereafter, we tested the in vitro functionality of the resulting myogenic precursors by measuring their fusion potential. When these cells were cultured in a low serum medium, they fused and formed myotubes. This differentiation was confirmed by immunostaining for the myosin heavy chain, a myotube marker. These preliminary results indicate that the Ad.CAGMyoD is an efficient way to differentiate hESC into skeletal muscle cells that are functional in vitro. Further in vivo experiments are underway to determine if these cells can be use for cellular therapy.
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