Human skeletal muscle cells derived from the orbicularis oculi have regenerative capacity for duchenne muscular dystrophy

Skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) have been proposed as suitable candidates for cell therapy in muscular disorders since they exhibit good capacity for myogenic regeneration. However, for better therapeutic outcomes, it is necessary to isolate human MuSCs from a suitable tissue source with high myogenic differentiation. In this context, we isolated CD56+CD82+ cells from the extra eyelid tissue of young and aged patients, and tested in vitro myogenic differentiation potential. In the current study, myogenic cells derived from extra eyelid tissue were characterized and compared with immortalized human myogenic cells. We found that myogenic cells derived from extra eyelid tissue proliferated and differentiated myofibers in vitro, and restored DYSTROPHIN or PAX7 expression after transplantation with these cells in mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Thus, human myogenic cells derived from extra eyelid tissue including the orbicularis oculi might be good candidates for stem cell-based therapies for treating muscular diseases.