Muscle Cell News 2.34 October 16, 2017 | |
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TOP STORY3-D Packaging of DNA Regulates Cell Identity A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that the ability of a stem cell to differentiate into cardiac muscle (and by extension other cell types) depends on what portions of the genome are available for activation, which is controlled by the location of DNA in a cell’s nucleus. [Press release from the University of Pennsylvania discussing online prepublication in Cell] Press Release | Full Article | Graphical Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSScientists showed that microRNA-1, a member of the muscle-specific microRNA family, is responsible for direct and selective targeting of MCU and inhibition of its translation, thereby affecting the capacity of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake machinery. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Investigators assessed the effects of combined polyethylene glycol hydrogel (PEG), human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte, and erythropoietin (EPO) therapy in a rat model of myocardial infarction. After ten weeks, attenuation of ventricular remodeling was identified in all groups that received PEG injections, while ejection fractions were significantly increased in the gel-EPO, cell, and gel-cell-EPO groups. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article Human iPSCs were cultured in multilayer culture plates with active gas ventilation, resulting in stable proliferation and pluripotency. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Increases Survival of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Researchers analyzed the effects of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on human pluripotent stem cells undergoing cardiac differentiation. They found that the addition of LIF within a precise time window during the in vitro differentiation process significantly increased cardiomyocytes viability. [J Cardiovasc Transl Res] Abstract SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSStaufen1 Inhibits MyoD Translation to Actively Maintain Muscle Stem Cell Quiescence Scientists showed that muscle stem cells (MuSCs) use direct translational repression to maintain the quiescent state. High-resolution single-molecule and single-cell analyses demonstrated that quiescent MuSCs express high levels of Myogenic Differentiation 1 (MyoD) transcript in vivo, whereas MyoD protein is absent. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract FAK Tyrosine Phosphorylation Is Regulated by AMPK and Controls Metabolism in Human Skeletal Muscle Primary human skeletal muscle cells were used to study the effects of insulin or AMPK-activating compound 5-aminoimadazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide treatment on focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling during serum starvation, as well as to determine the metabolic consequences of silencing the FAK gene, PTK2. [Diabetologia] Full Article Effects of Retinoic Acid Signaling on Extraocular Muscle Myogenic Precursor Cells In Vitro Investigators hypothesized that retinoic acid regulates Pitx2 expression in extraocular muscles myogenic precursor cells and that its effects would differ in leg muscle. The two muscle groups expressed differential retinoic acid receptor and retinoid X receptor levels. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract | Graphical Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSResearchers showed that MLN4924, a selective inhibitor of NEDD8-activating enzyme, markedly inhibited neointimal hyperplasia and accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas increased apoptosis in the vascular wall. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract TGF-β1 Evokes Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Shortening and Hyperresponsiveness via Smad3 The authors investigated the direct effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) on human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cell shortening and hyperresponsiveness. In isolated HASM cells, TGF-β1 increased basal and methacholine-induced cytoskeletal stiffness in a dose- and time-dependent manner. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract To gain insight into recruitment of different plaque smooth muscle cells (SMCs), scientists mapped their clonal architecture in aggregation chimeras of eGFP+Apoe-/- and Apoe-/- mouse embryos and in mice with a mosaic expression of fluorescent proteins in medial SMCs that were rendered atherosclerotic by PCSK9-induced hypercholesterolemia. [JCI Insight] Full Article | |
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REVIEWSBiomarker Potential of Extracellular miRNAs in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy The authors discuss current progress leading towards the clinical utility of extracellular miRNAs as putative Duchenne muscular dystrophy biomarkers, and their possible contribution to muscle physiology. [Trends Mol Med] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSCapricor Therapeutics Presents Positive Six-Month Results in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. reported that teens and young men in the advanced stages of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) experienced meaningful improvements in cardiac and upper limb function after a single dose of Capricor’s lead investigational product, CAP-1002. [Press release from Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the 22nd Annual International Congress of the World Muscle Society, Saint Malo] Press Release Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. in a poster presentation provided data which support the peripheral intravenous administration method the company plans to use in HOPE-2, its planned next clinical trial of its lead investigational product, CAP-1002, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Press release from Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine’s Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa, La Jolla] Press Release Ipsen Announces Four Poster Presentations of Dysport® (AbobotulinumtoxinA) Data Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that four abstracts regarding Dysport® data have been accepted for poster presentations. [Press release from Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the Child Neurology Society (CNS), Kansas City] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSBrainStorm Enrolls First Patients in Phase III Trial of NurOwn® in ALS BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that the first patients have been enrolled in the Phase III clinical trial of NurOwn® for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the Massachusetts General Hospital and UC Irvine Medical Center in California. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported new positive efficacy results showing sustained disease-modifying effects in the MoveDMD trial open-label extension following 24 and 36 weeks of treatment with edasalonexent. [Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release Flex Pharma Initiates CMT Phase II Trial with FLX-787 in US Flex Pharma, Inc. announced that, under its open investigational new drug application, the company has initiated a Phase II randomized, controlled, double-blinded, parallel design trial in the US, referred to as the COMMIT trial. The COMMIT trial will evaluate FLX-787, the Company’s co-activator of TRPA1 and TRPV1, in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), who suffer from painful, debilitating cramps. The company initiated a Phase II clinical trial in ALS earlier this quarter. [Flex Pharma, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSFDA Advisers Back Gene Therapy for Rare Form of Blindness Advisers to the FDA have paved the way for the agency’s first approval of a gene therapy to treat a disease caused by a genetic mutation. A panel of external experts unanimously voted that the benefits of the therapy, which treats a form of hereditary blindness, outweigh its risks. [Nature News] Editorial German Researchers Resign from Elsevier Journals in Push for Nationwide Open Access Five leading German scientists have resigned from their editorial positions at journals published by Elsevier, the latest step in a battle over open-access and subscription policies between the Dutch publishing giant and a consortium of German libraries, universities, and research institutes. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 14th Annual Stem Cell Symposium: Technology Innovation for Stem Cell Research and Therapy Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Position – Myotonic Dystrophy (Vitalité Health Network) Postdoctoral Fellow – Smooth Muscle Biology (Boston Children’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School) Research Assistant – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (University of Oxford) Assistant Professor – Musculoskeletal Biology (University of Alabama) Postdoctoral Associate – Skeletal Muscle Differentiation (University of Minnesota) Faculty Positions – Cardiovascular Biology (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation) Researcher – Skeletal Tissue Engineering (KU Leuven) Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cardiology (Temple University) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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