Contractile myografts confer systemic anti-aging benefits.

Abstract

Skeletal muscle is the main motor organ and plays a vital role in regulating systemic metabolism and aging. Exercise interventions can address many metabolic and degenerative diseases associated with aging, though alternative strategies may be needed when exercise is contraindicated, inaccessible or insufficient. Here we developed subcutaneous transplantation of differentiated autologous myocytes (myografts). Myografts exhibited mature, vascularized structures that self-contract continuously in mice. Myografts improve whole-body muscle mass and function, and metabolic and regenerative outcomes in aging and obese mouse models. In addition, myografts provide a stable source of virally transduced therapeutic proteins, such as parathyroid hormone and growth hormone, which may counteract bone or muscle loss without observed side effects. This approach opens a path for the application of cell and gene therapy in the treatment of diseases of aging.