Laminin-111-derived peptides promote adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and migration in human myoblasts.

Laminin-111(LM-111), a basal lamina protein from the extracellular matrix, was proposed as an effective therapy for several muscle diseases. The LM-111 treatment decreases muscle damage, restores muscle strength, alleviates inflammation, and promotes regeneration in animal models of dystrophies. LM-111 also improves the efficacy of myoblast transplantation (MT) therapy, inducing higher proliferation, survival, dispersion, and differentiation of transplanted myoblasts. Therefore, LM-111 is considered an essential molecule for the muscle environment. Partial proteolysis of extracellular matrix proteins, such as LM-111, produces peptides called matrikines, which are able to modulate cell activity. For example, the peptide AG73 modulates cell adhesion, migration and invasion of cancer cells, wound healing, and drug delivery.