Table 1 The expression and functions of MGF in the musculoskeletal system

Cell behavior/tissue type		Expression		Migration		Proliferation		Differentiation
Growth plate chondrocyte		MGF is expressed in the costochondral growth plate of two to six weeks old rats [59].		MGF peptide increases the mobility of MSCs [ 20, 91, 92] .		MGF is not associated with growth plate chondrocyte proliferation [ 9, 90] .		–
hMSC		–		MGF may promote cell migration of MSCs and chondrocytes [ 40, 92, 93] .		MGF peptide fails to enhance hMSC proliferation [ 20, 54, 92] .		MGF can accelerate the differentiation of BMSCs to chondrocytes in the presence of TGF-β3 [20].
Cartilage with defect		The expressions of MGF gene and mRNA are observed to be upregulated when cartilage is injured.		Synthesized MGF peptide could promote chondrocyte migration in both excessive stress and severe hypoxia [ 29, 90] .		MGF promotes the proliferation of chondrocytes from OA patients [40].		–
Muscle tissue		MGF expression increases in satellite cells and in proliferating myoblasts during muscle repair [94] and after mechanical stimulation [95].		MGF promotes the in vitro migration of human myoblasts [96].		MGF facilitates proliferation of the satellite cells when muscle is damaged [ 40, 97, 98] .		After muscle damage, MGF promotes the development into mononucleated myoblasts of the satellite cells [ 40, 97, 98] .