Sustained elevation of MG53 in the bloodstream increases tissue regenerative capacity without compromising metabolic function

MG53 is a muscle-specific TRIM-family protein that presides over the cell membrane repair response. Here, we show that MG53 present in blood circulation acts as a myokine to facilitate tissue injury-repair and regeneration. Transgenic mice with sustained elevation of MG53 in the bloodstream (tPA-MG53) have a healthier and longer life-span when compared with littermate wild type mice. The tPA-MG53 mice show normal glucose handling and insulin signaling in skeletal muscle, and sustained elevation of MG53 in the bloodstream does not have a deleterious impact on db/db mice. More importantly, the tPA-MG53 mice display remarkable dermal wound healing capacity, enhanced muscle performance, and improved injury-repair and regeneration. Recombinant human MG53 protein protects against eccentric contraction-induced acute and chronic muscle injury in mice. Our findings highlight the myokine function of MG53 in tissue protection and present MG53 as an attractive biological reagent for regenerative medicine without interference with glucose handling in the body. MG53 is a protein that regulates the cell membrane repair process, and it’s been suggested that it might play a role in diabetes. Here, the authors demonstrate that circulating MG53 functions as a myokine to facilitate tissue injury-repair and regeneration without impacting glucose handling.