Podosomes in muscle cells and their role in the remodeling of neuromuscular postsynaptic machinery

Abstract

Podosomes are adhesive, matrix remodeling organelles that have been described in numerous cell types, including all three vertebrate muscle cell lineages. Podosomes have been intensively studied in smooth muscle cells, but they have also been described in cardiac myocytes and skeletal muscle cells where they are proposed to play a role in developmental remodeling of neuromuscular junction postsynaptic machinery. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge of podosomes in muscle cells, with a focus on their potential function at the maturing synapse.

Keywords: Acetylcholine; Amotl2; Invadopodia; Maturation; Myoblast; NMJ; Neuromuscular junction; Podosomes; Remodeling; Striated muscle.