Introduction: Different populations of satellite cells (SCs) have been identified, but their functional difference remains unclear.
Methods: We used cell-surface markers and paired box transcription factor 3 (Pax3)/paired box transcription factor 7 (Pax7) expression to separate SC populations. In addition, self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation abilities of each population were analyzed.
Results: Pax3+ /Pax7- SCs exhibited higher proliferation ability characterized by forming clusters of myogenic colonies with more self-renewing cells after several passages, while Pax3- /Pax7+ SCs had faster differentiation. The myotubes derived from Pax3+ /Pax7- SCs tended to express slow-myosin heavy chain and exhibited rhythmic contraction, while myotubes originating from Pax3- /Pax7+ SCs primarily formed fast-myosin heavy chains characterized by transitory contraction.
Conclusions: Pax3+ /Pax7- SCs exhibited the ability of long-term self-renewal and proliferation, whereas Pax3- /Pax7+ SCs demonstrated faster differentiation. Muscle Nerve 54: 943-951, 2016.
Keywords: Pax3; Pax7; differentiation; proliferation; satellite cells; self-renewal.
© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.