Muscle Cell News Volume 4.37 | Nov 4 2019

TOP STORY

A Myoblast-Laden Collagen Bioink with Fully Aligned Au Nanowires for Muscle-Tissue Regeneration

Researchers mixed Au nanowires (GNWs) with the collagen-based bioink to provide aligned topographical cues to the laden cells. Because the aligned GNWs could clearly provide topographical cues to the cells, they adjusted various processing parameters and applied an external electric field to optimally align the GNWs. [Nano Lett] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Proteasome Activator PA200 Regulates Myofibroblast Differentiation

The aythors investigated the function of PA200 in myofibroblast differentiation and fibrotic tissue remodeling. PA200 was upregulated in hyperplastic basal cells and myofibroblasts of fibrotic lungs from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Role of Cardiac Transcription Factor NKX2-5 in Regulating the Human Cardiac miRNAome

Investigators used an NKX2-5^eGFP/w reporter line to isolate both cardiac committed mesoderm and cardiomyocytes. They identified 11 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in NKX2-5-expressing cardiac mesoderm compared to non-cardiac mesoderm. [Sci Rep] Full Article

miR-365 Inhibits Duck Myoblast Proliferation by Targeting IGF-Ⅰ via PI3K/Akt Pathway

Investigators found that overexpression of miR-365 could inhibit duck myoblast proliferation. To uncover the mechanism by which miR-365 inhibited duck myoblast proliferation, they showed that miR-365 can downregulate IGF-I by directly targeting its 3′ untranslated region. [Biosci Rep] Abstract

LncRNA MALAT1 Knockdown Alleviates Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation and Reperfusion Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptotic Death by Regulating miR-122

Expression of MALAT1 in H9c2 cells was silenced by shRNA-mediated transfection, following which cells were suffering from oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion. CCK-8, flow cytometry and western blot were carried out to evaluate the effects of MALAT1 against OGD/R injury. Further, the correlation between MALAT1, miR-122 and AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling was studied to decode the underlying mechanisms. [Exp Mol Pathol] Abstract

FRET-Based Cyclic GMP Biosensors Measure Low cGMP Concentrations in Cardiomyocytes and Neurons

Researchers used the carboxyl-terminal cyclic nucleotide binding domain of Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-dependent protein kinase flanked by different fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) pairs to generate two cGMP biosensors. They report that these cGMP biosensors displayed high affinity for cGMP and detected cGMP produced through soluble guanylyl cyclase and guanylyl cyclase A in stellate ganglion neurons and guanylyl cyclase B in cardiomyocytes. [Commun Biol] Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Zfp422 Promotes Skeletal Muscle Differentiation by Regulating EphA7 to Induce Appropriate Myoblast Apoptosis

Scientists found that Zfp422 played a critical role in skeletal muscle development and regeneration. It highly expressed in mouse skeletal muscle during embryonic development. Specific knockout of Zfp422 in skeletal muscle impaired embryonic muscle formation. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Discovery Proteomics in Aging Human Skeletal Muscle Finds Change in Spliceosome, Immunity, Proteostasis and Mitochondria

Consistent with reports in animal models, older human muscle was characterized by deranged energetic metabolism, a pro-inflammatory environment and increased proteolysis. Changes in alternative splicing with aging were confirmed by RNA-seq analysis. The authors propose that changes in the splicing machinery enables muscle cells to respond to a rise in damage with aging. [eLife] Full Article

Long Non-Coding RNA MALAT1 Accelerates Skeletal Muscle Cell Apoptosis and Inflammatory Response in Sepsis through Decreasing BRCA1 Expression by Recruiting EZH2

In vivo mouse model and in vitro cell model of sepsis induced by lipopolysaccharide were developed. High expression of lncRNA MALAT1 along with low expression of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) was identified in septic mice and human skeletal muscle cells of sepsis. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article

MIR-190B Alleviates Cell Autophagy and Burn-Induced Skeletal Muscle Wasting via Modulating PHLPP1/Akt/FoxO3A Signaling Pathway

MicroRNA array and real-time PCR were employed to measure miR-190b levels, and its influence on PH domain and leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) protein translation was estimated using luciferase reporter assay. The expression levels of autophagy-related proteins were analyzed by Western blot. [Shock] Abstract

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Is Associated with Human Muscle Satellite Cell Differentiation in Response to Muscle Damaging Exercise

The number of Myogenin⁺ cells increased 95% from maximal eccentric contractions (PRE) at 24 hours and remained elevated until 96 hours, p<0.05. The proportion of BDNF⁺/Myogenin⁺ cells was 26±0.3% at PRE, peaking at 24 hours and remained elevated at 96 hours. [Appl Physiol Nutr Metab] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Metformin Decreases Hyaluronan Synthesis by Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Researchers examined the effect of metformin on hyaluronan (HA) synthesis by cultured human vascular smooth myscle cells in vitro. They found that gestational metformin used significantly decreased HA content in the intima-media of mouse offspring aortas. [J Investig Med] Abstract

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Inherited Cardiac Diseases, Pluripotent Stem Cells and Genome Editing Combined – the Past, Present and Future

The authors discuss how human induced pluripotent stem cells could contribute to improving the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of an individual with a suspected genetic cardiac disease, thereby developing better risk stratification and clinical management strategies for these potentially lethal but treatable disorders. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field.

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Announces Top-Line Results of CMS-001, a Phase III Trial of Firdapse^® (Amifampridine Phosphate) in Patients with Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes (CMS)

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced top-line results from CMS-001, a Phase III study evaluating amifampridine phosphate for the symptomatic treatment of genetically confirmed CMS in adults and children aged two years and above. [Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

PPMD Awards $148,000 in Grants to Improve Cardiac Function in Duchenne

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy announced that Dr. Kan Hor from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Dr. Dongsheng Duan from the University of Missouri received grants to further develop their research into potential therapies that could improve cardiac health in people living with Duchenne. [Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy] Press Release

Trainees Often Ghostwrite PIs’ Peer Reviews: Survey

Many graduate students and postdocs write or help compose peer reviews their advisors are invited to provide, according to a survey of nearly 500 early-career researchers published on October 31^st in eLife. And often they do so without disclosing that fact to the journal- a practice that the survey authors consider to be ghostwriting. [The Scientist] Editorial

Trump Nominates MD Anderson’s Stephen Hahn to Lead FDA

President Trump announced his intent to nominate Dr Stephen Hahn to lead the FDA. Dr Stephen Hahn is the chief medical executive at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. While he is an accomplished physician and researcher, he has never worked in government, leaving his potential FDA agenda a mystery. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW 10^th International Meeting of the Stem Cell Network North Rhine-Westphalia
June 8-9, 2020
Aachen, Germany

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – Failing Heart Muscle Cells (University Hospital of Muenster)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Larngeal Muscle Development (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Genome Editing in Cardiac Microtissues (The Jackson Laboratory)

Research Scientists – Cardiac and Neuronal Cell Differentiation (Evotec)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Muscle (Harvard Medical School)

Scientific Associate – Cardiac Cell Therapy (Avery Therapeutics)

Research Scientist – Metabolic & Muscle Diseases (Regeneron)

Research Scientist – Gene Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders (Vertex Pharmaceuticals)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Skeletal Muscle Aging and Proteostasis (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Senior Scientist – Small Molecule Therapeutics (Almac Group)

Assistant Specialist – Cardiovascular Medicine (University of California, Davis)

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