Bioactive lipid mediator class switching regulates myogenic cell progression and muscle regeneration

Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 1;16(1):5578. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60586-8.

Abstract

The muscle stem cell niche is well-described as influencing myogenic cell fate decision; however, the intrinsic mechanisms driving muscle stem cell progression during myogenesis are not yet fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that bioactive lipid class switching, an auto-regulatory mechanism originally described during the inflammatory process, is conserved during myogenesis. During the transition from proliferation to differentiation, myogenic cells shift from pro-inflammatory to pro-resolution pathways, a process partially mediated by 15Δ-PGJ2 that promotes the expression of the prostaglandin inactivation enzyme 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase. Using pharmacological inhibitors and knockout models of the pro-resolution enzyme 15-lipoxygenase, we show that blocking the bioactive lipid class switching impairs myoblast differentiation in vitro and muscle regeneration in vivo. Administration of the pro-resolving mediator Protectin-D1 restores myogenesis, enhances muscle regeneration post-injury and improves muscle phenotype in a dystrophic mouse model. Overall, these findings provide a better comprehension of the mechanisms regulating myogenic progression, which opens new therapeutic avenues for muscle regeneration and dystrophies.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase / genetics
  • Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / metabolism
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology
  • Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred mdx
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle Development* / drug effects
  • Muscle Development* / physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal* / cytology
  • Muscle, Skeletal* / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal* / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal* / physiology
  • Myoblasts / cytology
  • Myoblasts / metabolism
  • Regeneration* / drug effects
  • Regeneration* / physiology

Substances

  • Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase
  • Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases