Methods and compositions for producing mature myotubes are provided herein. In some instances, the method involves contacting a myoblast in an in vitro culture with a compound, wherein the contacting the myoblast in the in vitro culture with the compound results in generation of mature myotubes or myotube-like cells. In some cases, methods of treatment are provided involving treating a subject with a compound such as a Chk1 inhibitor in order to treat muscle deficiency. The compound may be administered as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with a cell therapy, such as introduction of muscle precursor cells such as satellite cells or myoblasts. Methods for identifying compounds that induce formation of mature myotubes or myotube-like cells from myoblasts are also provided herein, as well as methods of using the identified compounds to treat subjects.
本文提供了生产成熟肌细胞的方法和组合物。在某些情况下,该方法涉及将体外培养中的肌母细胞与化合物接触,其中将体外培养中的肌母细胞与化合物接触导致产生成熟的肌管或肌管样细胞。在某些情况下,提供的治疗方法涉及用化合物(如 Chk1
抑制剂)治疗受试者,以治疗肌肉缺乏症。该化合物可作为独立疗法给药,也可与细胞疗法结合使用,如引入卫星细胞或肌母细胞等肌肉前体细胞。本文还提供了鉴定诱导从肌母细胞形成成熟肌管或肌管样细胞的化合物的方法,以及使用鉴定出的化合物治疗受试者的方法。