Circadian Clock Coordination of the Notch-to-Wnt Signaling Switch Promotes Regenerative Myogenesis

Abstract

Regenerative deficits of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) contribute to progressive muscle loss in muscular dystrophy. Successful regenerative repair requires a Notch to Wnt switch to allow MuSC expansion and myogenic differentiation, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Leveraging complementary genetic and pharmacological approaches, here we identify the circadian clock as a key regulator of the Notch to Wnt signaling transition to promote regeneration with therapeutic potential for dystrophic disease. Circadian clock activity marks cycling myogenic progenitors during muscle regeneration, and clock induction occurs in concert with Notch activation. We identify that key components of the Notch pathway are direct transcriptional targets of the clock that were induced by clock activation. Mechanistically, clock coordination of Notch and Wnt signaling promoted MuSC proliferative expansion while facilitating myogenic progression during regeneration. Importantly, this clock-regulated mechanism was preserved in dystrophin-deficient mouse and human myoblasts, and clock-activating compounds enhanced regenerative myogenesis in dystrophic muscle. Collectively, our findings uncover a circadian clock-controlled mechanism that orchestrates regenerative signaling transition with potential for therapeutic targeting to restore regenerative capacity in dystrophic disease.