The Interactive role of exercise and satellite cells in skeletal muscle regeneration and hypertrophy

Satellite cells (SCs) are skeletal muscle stem cells and due to their stemness properties capable of self -renewal and differentiating into mature muscle fibers. They therefore have the capacity to contribute to the maintenance, regeneration, and hypertrophy of muscle mass, and be a potential player in the growing field of interventions, the so-called cell therapy, when it comes to restore function in traumatic injuries, debilitating diseases such as myopathies and even age-related attenuation of muscle force. Essentially, physiologic activation of SCs residing in skeletal muscle happens through stretch, exercise, injury and even electrical stimulation. Once activated, SCs undertake two fates: either self-renewal to prevent its own depletion or progress through proliferation, differentiation and terminally playing a major role in muscle regeneration and hypertrophy. This review attempts to focus upon different modalities of exercise (e.g., endurance, resistance, etc.), as natural and normal routes of muscle regeneration and hypertrophy. Moreover, potential application of SCs in cell therapy and skeletal muscle substitute is another domain where this review will shed light into. Finally, published relevant researches carried out in Iran will be spotlighted aiming to depict the current national status in this very discipline of thought.