ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Critical illness impairs coordinated myogenesis: a prospective longitudinal study of skeletal muscle progenitor cell biology using serial muscle biopsies (SATELLITE study)
Authors' conclusion
Critical illness was associated with disturbed satellite cell regenerative programming and altered mitochondrial remodelling rather than early depletion of the satellite cell pool or overt bioenergetic failure. Age was a stronger predictor of early satellite cell dysfunction than disease severity.
Study context
- Population
- Mechanically ventilated adults admitted to ICU23 with repeat biopsy at day 7
- Participants
- 33 vs 20
- Exposure
- Mechanically ventilated ICU patients vs healthy controls
- ICUn = 33
- Controlsn = 20reference
- Outcome
- SC depletion and dysfunction early after ICU admission
Methodological detailssingle-centre, longitudinal, serial muscle biopsies
- Single-centre
- Longitudinal
- Serial muscle biopsies
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Satellite cell (SC) number per fibre, controls (median [IQR])
- 0.106 [0.085-0.129]
- SC number per fibre, patients at admission
- 0.098 [0.056-0.125]
- SC number per fibre, patients after 7 days (paired p = 0.784)
- 0.084 [0.066-0.117]
- Fusion index at day 0, patients vs controls (p = 0.029)
- 68.9% [66.3-71.7] vs. 74.0% [70.3-77.1]
- SC proliferation lower in older patients (ρ)
- ρ=−0.68 and - 0.49
- SC proliferation associated with lower muscle strength (ρ)
- ρ = 0.55 and 0.62
- Fragmented mitochondrial phenotype associated with lower proliferation, respiratory performance and muscle strength (ρ)
- ρ≈−0.6 to −0.8
- Interconnected mitochondrial morphology associated with better function (ρ)
- ρ ≈ 0.6-0.7
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Whole body glucose disposal · 7 days
| Outcome | ICU | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Day 180 follow-up (7 of 10 survivors attended) · 180 days | ||
| SF-36 physical score | 62.5 | — not stated in the abstract |
— not stated in the abstract
- Muscle weakness (MRC score) during 7 days in ICU
- 16 · range 0–32
- Day 180 follow-up (7 of 10 survivors attended) — SC proliferation capacity, % of control (impaired)
- ≈50 %
- Day 180 follow-up (7 of 10 survivors attended) — Insulin sensitivity, % of control (improved)
- ≈71 %
- Day 180 follow-up (7 of 10 survivors attended) — SC number per fiber, % of control (improved)
- ≈95%
Original publication
Critical illness impairs coordinated myogenesis: a prospective longitudinal study of skeletal muscle progenitor cell biology using serial muscle biopsies (SATELLITE study). Crit Care. Published 16 June 2026. doi:10.
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