Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Broad Stem Cell Research Center and Aarhus University in Denmark have for the first time isolated adult stem cells from the gray mouse lemur, a small primate. The breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, paves the way for developing stem cell therapies more closely aligned with human clinical needs.
Stem cells, hailed as the “master key” of regenerative medicine, have seen few approved therapies despite promising lab results. A major hurdle is that treatments successful in mice often fail in human trials. The gray mouse lemur, native to Madagascar, may hold the solution.
The team isolated muscle stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells from the lemurs, finding their behavior closely resembles human stem cells—unlike those of mice. Biological similarities between lemur and human stem cells far exceed those of commonly used mouse models, suggesting lemur-based therapies could be more translatable to humans.
Innovative algorithmic analyses revealed striking parallels: lemur muscle tissue microstructure mirrors humans, and their muscle stem cells divide faster than mouse cells, matching human rates. Both lemur and human muscle stem cells have low levels of spermidine, a key molecule for cell function; supplementing spermidine boosted their division capacity—a finding set to enter human trials in Denmark. Additionally, lemur muscle contains fat cells identical to humans (absent in mice), linked to mesenchymal stem cells’ unique adipogenic ability regulated by complement factor D.
This makes the gray mouse lemur an ideal model for studying human muscle biology, offering new targets for treating muscle atrophy, age-related muscle loss, and conditions unmodeled in mice.
The team is now exploring optimal stem cell delivery methods, dosage, and timing to advance these therapies from lab to clinic.
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