# PTEN Function in Satellite Cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $330,770

## Abstract

Abstract
Satellite cells are muscle-resident stem cells responsible for postnatal muscle growth,
maintenance and regeneration. In response to muscle injury, quiescent satellite cells (QSCs)
are activated, enter the cell cycle and proliferate, then differentiate to repair the injury or self-
renew to replenish the satellite cell pool. Our long-term goal is to understand the molecular
regulation of satellite cells and use this knowledge to improve the regeneration and function of
skeletal muscles during aging or under pathological conditions. Compelling evidence
demonstrates that deterioration of both systemic and cell-intrinsic properties result in reduced
satellite cell function and accelerated muscle wasting during aging. The overall goal of this
proposed study is therefore to explore novel molecular pathways that underlie the function of
satellite cells. The phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a dual-specificity lipid and
protein phosphatase. PTEN was originally identified as a tumor suppressor mutated in many
malignancies. Emerging studies have identified a role of PTEN in several adult stem cell types.
However, the role of PTEN in satellite cells is completely unknown. This proposal aims to fill in
this critical knowledge gap. Our preliminary results provide compelling evidence that PTEN KO
in postnatal satellite cells leads to ablation of this stem cell population. The first aim will combine
PTEN KO and lineage labeling to directly examine the fate of PTEN null satellite cells. This Aim
will also determine how PTEN deletion in satellite cells affects muscle regeneration and gene
expression. Interestingly, PTEN KO in embryonic myoblasts leads to postnatal muscle
hypertrophy and better muscle function in young mice, but the long-term effect of this KO on
satellite cells is unknown. The second aim will investigate the consequences of PTEN deletion
in activated satellite cells and proliferating myoblasts, and age-dependent muscle function. The
third aim will dissect the molecular mechanism underlying PTEN function in quiescent (Aim 1)
and activated (Aim 2) satellite cells by identifying the upstream regulators and downstream
effectors of PTEN in satellite cells. The molecular regulation of PTEN intracellular localization,
the relative role of cytoplasmic and nuclear PTEN, and the interaction between PTEN and Notch
signaling will provide new insights into PTEN regulation and function in stem cells independent
of outcomes of Aim 1 and Aim 2. Together, this proposal will for the first time elucidate a role of
PTEN in satellite cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10134105
- **Project number:** 5R01AR071649-05
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Shihuan Kuang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $330,770
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-03-01 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10134105

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10134105, PTEN Function in Satellite Cells (5R01AR071649-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10134105. Licensed CC0.

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