Translational Medical Research Commons^™

The Role Of Mmp9 In Satellite Cell Activation After Increased Activity, Mike H.M.H. Pang, Jung A. Kim, Gary E. Mccall, Ryan S. Mehan, J-P Hyatt

Summer Research

The unique adaptive ability of skeletal muscle to meet functional demands is exemplified in its response to exercise. Though little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate this plasticity, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is believed to play a large role. The basal lamina is a specialized layer of ECM that lies in direct contact with the cell membrane of muscle fibers and facilitates environment-to-cell interactions. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an enzyme in the basal lamina that regulates much of these adaptive processes. During exercise, the regenerative process of damaged tissue requires the activation of muscle-specific stem cells known as …