The role and therapeutic potential of stem cells in skeletal
![](https://media.springernature.com/m685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1186%2Fs13287-022-02706-5/MediaObjects/13287_2022_2706_Fig2_HTML.png)
Sarcopenia is a common age-related skeletal muscle disorder featuring the loss of muscle mass and function. In regard to tissue repair in the human body, scientists always consider the use of stem cells. In skeletal muscle, satellite cells (SCs) are adult stem cells that maintain tissue homeostasis and repair damaged regions after injury to preserve skeletal muscle integrity. Muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) and SCs are the two most commonly studied stem cell populations from skeletal muscle. To date, considerable progress has been achieved in understanding the complex associations between stem cells in muscle and the occurrence and treatment of sarcopenia. In this review, we first give brief introductions to sarcopenia, SCs and MDSCs. Then, we attempt to untangle the differences and connections between these two types of stem cells and further elaborate on the interactions between sarcopenia and stem cells. Finally, our perspectives on the possible application of stem cells for the treatment of sarcopenia in future are presented. Several studies emerging in recent years have shown that changes in the number and function of stem cells can trigger sarcopenia, which in turn leads to adverse influences on stem cells because of the altered internal environment in muscle. A better understanding of the role of stem cells in muscle, especially SCs and MDSCs, in sarcopenia will facilitate the realization of novel therapy approaches based on stem cells to combat sarcopenia.
![](https://www.ddw-online.com/media/32/99-figure-1.jpg)
Stem Cell PHARMACEUTICS - Drug Discovery World (DDW)
![](https://www.genengnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/June22_2015_iStock_000034750354_SpinalCordInjury_TransplantedOlfactoryCells_GNH2991187702.jpg)
Gene-Reduced Human Neural Stem Cells Offer Powerful Therapeutic
![](https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/1185221/fendo-14-1185221-HTML/image_m/fendo-14-1185221-g002.jpg)
Frontiers Sarcopenic obesity: epidemiology, pathophysiology, cardiovascular disease, mortality, and management
![](https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/271733/fneur-09-00034-HTML-r1/image_m/fneur-09-00034-g001.jpg)
Frontiers Potential of Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Ischemic Stroke
![](https://pub.mdpi-res.com/jcm/jcm-09-00856/article_deploy/html/images/jcm-09-00856-g001.png?1585797586)
JCM, Free Full-Text
![](https://media.springernature.com/m685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41598-017-00803-7/MediaObjects/41598_2017_803_Fig4_HTML.jpg)
From skeletal muscle to stem cells: an innovative and minimally-invasive process for multiple species
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/production.scholastica/public/attachments/dffda62b-dce3-4791-8d7a-3f5d07d9527b/large/image2.png)
Understanding the Therapeutic Potential of Bone Marrow Stem Cell
![](https://pub.mdpi-res.com/ijms/ijms-18-00577/article_deploy/html/images/ijms-18-00577-ag.png?1569250041)
IJMS, Free Full-Text
![](https://media.springernature.com/m685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs12015-019-09897-0/MediaObjects/12015_2019_9897_Fig1_HTML.png)
Enhancing the Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with
![](https://media.springernature.com/lw685/springer-static/image/chp%3A10.1007%2F978-981-19-2655-6_23/MediaObjects/513100_1_En_23_Fig1_HTML.png)
Advances, Opportunities, and Challenges in Stem Cell-Based Therapy
![](https://media.springernature.com/lw685/springer-static/image/chp%3A10.1007%2F978-3-7091-1232-8_10/MediaObjects/303497_1_En_10_Fig3_HTML.gif)
Aging of Muscle Stem Cells
Decrease in the expression of muscle-specific miRNAs, miR-133a and miR-1, in myoblasts with replicative senescence
![](https://journals.physiology.org/cms/10.1152/jappl.2000.89.1.81/asset/images/medium/dg0700013004.jpeg)
Skeletal muscle mass and distribution in 468 men and women aged 18–88 yr
![](https://media.springernature.com/m685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41467-019-08983-8/MediaObjects/41467_2019_8983_Fig3_HTML.png)
ZEB1 protects skeletal muscle from damage and is required for its regeneration