Role of thymosin β4 on skeletal myoblast migration, proliferation, and survival

Abstract

Massive cell death associated with poor donor cell survival was a limiting factor in the success of myoblast transfer therapy (MTT). The current study is aimed to determine the effects of thymosin β4 on human skeletal myoblast (hSkM) migration, proliferation and survival under hypoxia. hSkM was cultured in basal medium (BM, M199 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum) supplemented with various concentrations of thymosin β4. Supernatant was collected to test the toxicity of thymosin β4 towards hSkM. Cell number was quantified using CyQuant cell proliferation assay kit. Cell viability was determined by calculating the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatant. hSkM migration was determined using cell culture insert. No significant toxicity of thymosin β4 towards hSkM was found when thymosin β4 was increased up to 600ng/ml. Thymosin βincreased hSkM proliferation rate by 35.4+13.4% at 600ng/ml. It enhanced hSkM viability (cell injury =10.9±1.7%) as compared with control (cell injury = 24.6%, p < 0.05) under hypoxia (5% CO2+ 94% N2+1% O2) for 48 hours (hrs). Increased migration rate (164.5+15/well, p