# Integrin signaling in skeletal muscle regeneration

> **NIH NIH R01** · CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, D.C. · 2021 · $344,705

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Within the skeletal muscle, Pax7+ satellite cells (SCs) are a quiescent muscle stem cell population that
becomes activated upon injury and gives rise to progenitors that migrate, divide, and fuse to generate new
muscles. Our understanding for these processes during muscle regeneration is incomplete. The central
hypothesis of this proposal is that SCs utilize integrin signaling for specialized functions. SCs are located on
the muscle fiber surface and surrounded by the extracellular matrix (ECM). The primary ECM binding
receptors on the cell surface are the integrin heterodimers, composed of one a-integrin and one β-integrin.
Integrins anchor cells to the ECM and tether to the actin cytoskeleton. Upon binding to the ECM, integrins
signal intracellularly, frequently in concert with growth factor receptors. SCs express many integrins, and they
need to be studied systematically to understand SC biology. This proposal is the beginning of a long-term
plan to explore how integrins integrate themselves into specific aspects of SC function:
Aim 1: To tease out β1-integrin-regulated signaling in SC function: We will determine how β1-integrin's
downstream effectors enhance SC proliferation and self-renewal, via cooperation with FGF2, and potentially
with Wnt7a.
Aim 2: To determine the role of β3-integrin in SC function: Both β3- and β1-integrins can form receptors for
the ECM component fibronectin, which has a role in muscle regeneration. We will determine β3-integrin's
function in the SC.
Aim3: To determine the role of ILK in SC function in vivo: ILK (integrin linked kinase) is present at the basal
membrane of SCs as β1-integrin. We will decipher the role of ILK in the SC. We will also determine whether
and how ILK plays a role in integrin-FGF2 synergy in SCs.
.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10141203
- **Project number:** 5R01AR071976-05
- **Recipient organization:** CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
- **Principal Investigator:** CHEN-MING FAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $344,705
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-10 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10141203

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10141203, Integrin signaling in skeletal muscle regeneration (5R01AR071976-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10141203. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*