547-HIC1 defines Mesenchymal Progenitor Quiescence

Paper Talk · Feb 24, 2026 · 16m

This research identifies Hypermethylated in cancer 1 (Hic1) as a specific marker for quiescent mesenchymal progenitors (MPs) within adult skeletal muscle. By using advanced lineage tracing and single-cell sequencing, the authors demonstrate that Hic1+ cells act as a critical signaling hub that orchestrates the stages of muscle regeneration. The study reveals that these progenitors are not a single group, but rather a collection of subpopulations—including fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) and tenogenic progenitors—with unique functional fates. Following an injury, these cells expand to…