Platelet-Derived Chemokines Promote Skeletal Muscle Regeneration by Guiding Neutrophil Recruitment to Injured Muscles

The study investigates the role of platelet-derived chemokines in skeletal muscle regeneration, specifically focusing on the chemokines CXCL5 and CXCL7/PPBP. It was found that these chemokines are crucial for the early recruitment of neutrophils to injured muscles in mice, which is essential for effective muscle repair. Platelet depletion or knockout of Cxcl7 in male mice led to impaired neutrophil infiltration and suboptimal muscle regeneration, including reduced neo-angiogenesis and muscle strength recovery. The findings suggest that platelet-secreted CXCL7 is vital for muscle regeneration by guiding neutrophil recruitment, and this mechanism could potentially be harnessed for therapeutic purposes to enhance muscle repair.