Changes in sites of open chromatin in muscle stem cells that occur upon knockout of TRF2

However, it was also suggested that they have additional roles in certain tissues. Muscle stem cells (MuSCs), expressing a pivotal transcription factor Pax7, are fundamental to preserve regenerative capacity of muscle tissue.

Yet, the cell autonomous mechanism that regulates Pax7 expression to maintain MuSC identity is unclear. Here, we uncover that the telomeric protein TRF2 is critical to sustain stem cell identity in adult muscles and is dynamically regulated upon injury. MuSC-specific TRF2 ablation in mice aggravates muscular dystrophy, mimicking closely the severity of the human disease.