The effect of low intensity shockwave treatment (Li-SWT) on human myoblasts and mouse skeletal muscle

BACKGROUND: Transplanting myogenic cells and scaffolds for tissue engineering in skeletal muscle have shown inconsistent results. One of the limiting factors is neovascularization at the recipient site. Low intensity shockwave therapy (Li-SWT) has been linked to increased tissue regeneration and vascularization, both integral to survival and integration of transplanted cells. This study was conducted to demonstrate the response of myoblasts and skeletal muscle to Li-SWT. METHOD: Primary isolated human myoblasts and explants were treated with low intensity shockwaves and subsequently cell viability, proliferation and differentiation were tested. Cardiotoxin induced injury was created in tibialis anterior muscles of 28 mice, and two days later, the lesions were treated with 500 impulses of Li-SWT on one of the legs. The treatment was repeated every third day of the period and ended on day 14 after cardiotoxin injection.. The animals were followed up and documented up to 21 days after cardiotoxin injury. RESULTS: Li-SWT had no significant effect on cell death, proliferation, differentiation and migration, the explants however showed decreased adhesion. In the animal experiments, qPCR studies revealed a significantly increased expression of apoptotic, angiogenic and myogenic genes; expression of Bax, Bcl2, Casp3, eNOS, Pax7, Myf5 and Met was increased in the early phase of regeneration in the Li-SWT treated hind limbs. Furthermore, a late accumulative angiogenic effect was demonstrated in the Li-SWT treated limbs by a significantly increased expression of Angpt1, eNOS, iNOS, Vegfa, and Pecam1. CONCLUSION: Treatment was associated with an early upregulation in expression of selected apoptotic, pro-inflammatory, angiogenic and satellite cell activating genes after muscle injury. It also showed a late incremental effect on expression of pro-angiogenic genes. However, we found no changes in the number of PAX7 positive cells or blood vessel density in Li-SWT treated and control muscle. Furthermore, Li-SWT in the selected doses did not decrease survival, proliferation or differentiation of myoblasts in vitro. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12891-017-1879-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.