Progress on cell therapy for skeletal muscle disorders.

Cell therapy remains an attractive therapeutic option for the numerous genetic and non-genetic maladies affecting skeletal muscle. Since skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in the body, delivery has been notoriously challenging, but there have been significant advances, with several ongoing clinical trials of allogeneic and autologous cell transplantation aiming to replace diseased skeletal muscle with healthy and functional myofibers and muscle stem cells. Paracrine cellular approaches intended to enhance regeneration are also ongoing. In this review, we will provide an overview of the progress and current status of these different approaches, and discuss the forecast for future phases as well as the hurdles that need to be circumvented for the widespread application of cell therapy for skeletal muscle disorders.