The potential of proteomics for in-depth bioanalytical investigations of satellite cell function in applied myology.

Introduction: Regenerative myogenesis plays a crucial role in mature myofibers to counteract muscular injury or dysfunction due to neuromuscular disorders. The activation of specialized myogenic stem cells, called satellite cells, is intrinsically involved in proliferation and differentiation, followed by myoblast fusion and the formation of multi-nucleated myofibers.

Areas covered: This report provides an overview of the role of satellite cells in the neuromuscular system and the potential future impact of proteomic analyses for biomarker discovery, as well as the identification of novel therapeutic targets in muscle disease. The article reviews the ways in which the systematic analysis of satellite cells, myoblasts and myocytes by single cell proteomics can help to better understand the process of myofiber regeneration.

Expert opinion: In order to better comprehend satellite cell dysfunction in neuromuscular disorders, mass spectrometry-based proteomics is an excellent large-scale analytical tool for the systematic profiling of pathophysiological processes. The optimized isolation of muscle-derived cells can be routinely performed by mechanical/enzymatic dissociation protocols, followed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting in specialized flow cytometers. Ultrasensitive single cell proteomics using label-free quantitation methods or approaches that utilize tandem mass tags are ideal bioanalytical approaches to study the pathophysiological role of stem cells in neuromuscular disease.