# Development of a Cell-Based Therapy to Improve Recovery Following Immobilization

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · 2022 · $337,856

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Long-term immobilization or extended bed rest following severe injury or disease can initiate rapid and
significant loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Recovery may be slow and long-term disability is a
potential outcome, particularly in older adults. Physical rehabilitation is commonly prescribed for individuals
subjected to long-term bed rest, yet mobility may be severely compromised in older adults and intensity of
movement may not be sufficient to facilitate full recovery. Thus, novel regenerative therapies are necessary to
maximize positive outcomes associated with rehabilitation to prevent or treat long-term disability associated
with immobilization in older adults. Pericytes are multipotent stem cells that reside around microvessels and
capillaries and provide important structural and paracrine support necessary to regulate vessel permeability,
vessel diameter and blood flow, endothelial cell proliferation, and stabilization of newly formed capillaries. Data
from our laboratory demonstrate that perivascular stem and stromal cells are highly sensitive to biophysical
cues in the niche, and that pericyte transplantation in combination with a physiological stimulus (exercise) can
promote the release of regenerative growth and neurotrophic factors that positively influence skeletal muscle
repair, growth, and strength. Thus, pericytes represent a clinically relevant cell source to expedite recovery of
muscle mass and strength following a short or prolonged period of immobilization. The specific objective of this
proposal is to exploit the mechanosensing properties of pericytes for the purpose of developing a new and
exciting cell-based skeletal muscle rehabilitation strategy. Our central hypothesis is that there are pericyte
subpopulations in skeletal muscle that are divergent in their response to a mechanical stimulus and
uniquely assist with the recovery of muscle mass and strength following remobilization. Thus, this work
seeks to: 1) determine the impact of mechanical strain on pericyte function, 2) determine the contribution of
pericytes to skeletal muscle mass recovery following a period of immobilization in mice, and 3) develop a
pericyte-derived exosome-based therapy for skeletal muscle recovery following a period of immobilization in
mice. The work is highly innovative given the potential to identify a specific perivascular stem/stromal cell
source with exceptional potential to recover skeletal muscle mass and function following a period of
immobilization. The proposed work is significant because it is expected to create a superior pre-clinical
strategy that can prevent and/or treat age-related disabilities, improving the quality of life for our growing aged
population and reducing burden on the US healthcare system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10445294
- **Project number:** 5R01AR072735-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- **Principal Investigator:** Marni D. Boppart
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $337,856
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-15 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10445294

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10445294, Development of a Cell-Based Therapy to Improve Recovery Following Immobilization (5R01AR072735-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10445294. Licensed CC0.

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