Usage of growth factors in acute muscle injuries

Skeletal muscle injuries are the most common sports-related injuries and present a challenge in primary care and sports medicine. When a skeletal muscle is injured, satellite cells are activated and inflammatory cells migrate to the injury site. Complete recovery from the injury is compromised due to the development of fibrosis. To minimize the disability and enhance full functional recovery after skeletal muscle injuries, growth factors acting on satellite cells and inflammatory cells were developed to promote the regeneration of injured skeletal muscle. To improve injured muscle to recover better or faster, several biological growth factors had been developed, such as exogenous growth factors which would promote healing of injured muscle fibers, the inhibition of which would block the muscle fibrosis. Drugs that inhibit TGF-ß (transforming growth factor-ß) had been developed for clinical use with some good results. More clinical trial was needed for the development of drugs that promote the regeneration of injured skeletal muscle.