Muscle-base tissue engineering and gene therapy of the musculoskeletal system.

Aim: Muscle-based somatic gene therapy is a novel way to alleviate a bioche mical deficiency. Method: Muscle-derived cells are very promising in the fi eld of gene therapy and tissue engineering. First, most muscle tissue is ac cessible by injection. Second, muscle tissue consists of multinucleated, po stmitotic myofibers, which enable a long-term expression of the transduced gene. Third, muscle tissue can be biopsied easily. It is available in abund ance and the biopsy does not compromise the health and function of the pati ent. Finally, muscle tissue is highly vascularized, which makes systemic de livery feasible. Results: Muscle-derived cells can promote muscle healing a nd bone healing. implanted cells maintain a long-term transgene expression of therapeutic proteins. Isolated, muscle-derived stem cells can differenti ate in osteoblasts. Conclusion: Based on these characteristics, we present four possible applications: inherited muscular diseases, muscle injury, bon e healing, and intraarticular disorders.