A Human Skeletal Muscle Atlas Identifies the Trajectories of Stem and Progenitor Cells across Development and from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Cell Stem Cell. 2020 Jul 2;27(1):158-176.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.04.017. Epub 2020 May 11.

Abstract

The developmental trajectory of human skeletal myogenesis and the transition between progenitor and stem cell states are unclear. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to profile human skeletal muscle tissues from embryonic, fetal, and postnatal stages. In silico, we identified myogenic as well as other cell types and constructed a "roadmap" of human skeletal muscle ontogeny across development. In a similar fashion, we also profiled the heterogeneous cell cultures generated from multiple human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) myogenic differentiation protocols and mapped hPSC-derived myogenic progenitors to an embryonic-to-fetal transition period. We found differentially enriched biological processes and discovered co-regulated gene networks and transcription factors present at distinct myogenic stages. This work serves as a resource for advancing our knowledge of human myogenesis. It also provides a tool for a better understanding of hPSC-derived myogenic progenitors for translational applications in skeletal muscle-based regenerative medicine.

Keywords: development; human myogenesis; pluripotent stem cells; satellite cells; single cell RNA-sequencing; skeletal muscle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Muscle Development*
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells*
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • Transcription Factors