Wnt proteins are essential for tissue regeneration and intercellular signaling. This study focuses on Wnt7a, a protein secreted via extracellular vesicles (EVs) during muscle repair. Unlike traditional pathways, Wnt7a utilizes a unique mechanism involving a specific 18-amino acid sequence called the Exosome-Binding Peptide (EBP). EBP directs Wnt7a to EVs by binding to coatomer proteins (COPA and COPB2), which anchor the protein to the EV surface, enabling its bioactivity in long-range …

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    This study investigates the critical role of the Repressor Element 1-Silencing Transcription Factor (REST), also known as Neuron-Restrictive Silencer Factor (NRSF), in maintaining the identity and function of muscle stem cells (MuSCs). MuSCs are responsible for the lifelong regeneration of skeletal muscle, and their proper function depends on the repression of non-muscle lineage genes. REST plays a key role in this process by actively silencing these genes, preventing …

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  Personal take on this article:   The injection of Wnt7a into muscles has been shown to speed up muscle repair and improve muscle health in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, it's not clear if Wnt7a is necessary for muscle repair. In this study, we looked at mice with and without Wnt7a in their muscles to see how well their muscles could heal after injury. We …

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  We discovered that a protein called Wnt7a is elevated and released from newly regenerating muscle fibers in response to muscle injury, triggering a healing response. However, isolating extracellular vesicles (EVs) from muscle tissue is challenging. Traditional methods, like ultracentrifugation, often lead to contamination with non-EV proteins and cellular fragments. To overcome this, we developed a new protocol using Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). This method …

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