Mouse Lemur Discovery Paves the Way for Improved Stem Cell Therapies
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A New Model for Human Muscle Regeneration
Researchers have identified the mouse lemur as a significantly more accurate animal model for human muscle regeneration than mice, offering potential breakthroughs in treating muscular dystrophy, age-related muscle loss, and other debilitating conditions. This discovery stems from the mouse lemur’s unique stem cell behavior, notably its tendency to accumulate fat – a process mirroring what happens in human muscle aging and disease. Unlike mice, which don’t readily exhibit this characteristic, the mouse lemur provides a closer physiological resemblance to humans, potentially unlocking more effective stem cell therapies.
Why mouse Lemurs Offer a Superior Model
For years, mice have been the standard animal model for studying muscle regeneration and testing stem cell therapies.Though, the translation of promising results from mouse studies to human clinical trials has been consistently disappointing. This is largely because mouse muscle physiology differs significantly from our own.The key difference lies in the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells.Mouse lemur mesenchymal stem cells are remarkably adept at forming fat, driven by high production of Complement Factor D, a protein linked to fat accumulation within muscle tissue. this fat accumulation is a hallmark of aging and various muscle diseases in humans, making the mouse lemur a far more relevant model for studying these conditions.
“This means the mouse lemur is not only a better model for human muscle – it also offers us entirely new potential treatment targets for diseases and symptoms that do not normally occur in mice,” explains Antoine de Morree, lead researcher on the study.
Identifying the Optimal Model Organism
The research team embarked on this discovery through a novel computational approach designed to identify superior model organisms. They developed a method to compare cells and tissues across different animal species, pinpointing the mouse lemur as having striking similarities to human muscle at a cellular level. This was further confirmed through microscopic analysis.
This innovative computational method promises to reduce animal usage in research by allowing scientists to pre-select the moast appropriate animal model before conducting experiments.The team’s confidence in the mouse lemur’s potential led them to delve deeper into its biological characteristics.
“It is indeed very exciting to challenge existing paradigms and in the end be able to study something that could not be modeled before,” says Pilar Stella, PhD student and co-first author of the study.
Moving Closer to Effective Treatments
Stem cell therapy holds immense promise for regenerative medicine, but its clinical request has been hampered by the poor translation of results from animal models to humans. The mouse lemur offers a solution by providing a platform for developing therapies based on cells that more closely mimic human physiology.
“This brings us closer to effective treatments for conditions like muscular dystrophy, age-related muscle loss, and other diseases where stem cells could play a role,” states Antoine de Morree.
The next phase of research will focus on optimizing stem cell delivery methods into mouse lemur muscle tissue, including determining the ideal dosage and treatment timing. Concurrently, preparations are underway for the first human clinical trial utilizing spermidine, a compound showing promise in promoting muscle health.
This discovery represents a significant step forward in the field of regenerative medicine, offering renewed hope for individuals suffering from muscle-related diseases and age-related decline. The mouse lemur,once a relatively unexplored species in research,is now poised to play a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of stem cell therapies.
Reference: Kang J,Kanugovi A,Stella MPJ,et al. In vivo self-renewal and expansion of quiescent stem cells from a non-human primate. Common nat. 2025;16(1):5370. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58897-x
