Muscle Cell News 5.01 January 13, 2020 | |
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TOP STORYPCSK6 Is a Key Protease in the Control of Smooth Muscle Cell Function in Vascular Remodeling In human, rat, and mouse intimal hyperplasia, proprotein convertase subtilisins/kexin 6 (PCSK6) was expressed by proliferating SMA+ cells and upregulated after five days in rat carotid balloon injury model, with positive correlation to PDGFB and MMP2/MMP14. [Circ Res] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSScientists showed that engineered heart tissues (EHTs) could be generated by directing hPSCs to differentiate into ventricular or atrial cardiomyocytes, and then embedding these cardiomyocytes in a collagen-hydrogel to create chamber-specific, ring-shaped, EHTs. [Nat Commun] Full Article Downregulation of miR-200a Protects Cardiomyocyte against Apoptosis H2O2 was used to induce an acute myocardial infarction model in vitro. miR-200a mimics, anti-miR-200a antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides, as well as corresponding negative controls were transfected into cardiomyocytes to observe the effect of miR-200a. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract Stimulating adult rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) with proinflammatory mediators revealed that interleukin 1β (IL-1β) significantly enhanced Cx43 levels through the IL-1β pathway. Additionally, IL-1β reduced mRNA levels of the myofibroblast markers: connective tissue growth factor and α smooth muscle actin, compared to control CFs. [Heliyon] Full Article SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSSestrin Prevents Atrophy of Disused and Aging Muscles by Integrating Anabolic and Catabolic Signals Through a combination of transcriptomics and transgenesis, researchers identified sestrins, a family of stress-inducible metabolic regulators, as protective factors against muscle wasting. Sestrin expression decreased during inactivity and its genetic deficiency exacerbated muscle wasting; conversely, sestrin overexpression suffices to prevent atrophy. [Nat Commun] Full Article Investigators showed that while constitutive deletion of Flt1 was detrimental to the skeletal muscle function, endothelial cell-specific Flt1 deletion resulted in increased vascular density, increased satellite cell number and improvement in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated phenotype in mdx mice. [PLoS Genet] Full Article To investigate metformin’s effect on satellite cells, scientists examined changes in Pax7, a transcription factor regulating the proliferation of muscle progenitors. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article Skeletal Muscle Cells Derived from Mouse Skin Cultures Researchers established a novel, simple, and highly reproducible method to generate skeletal muscle cells from mouse skin. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract The authors investigated the in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of hesperidin and hesperetin under oxidative stress induced in L6 myotubes. [Cell Biochem Funct] Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSThe authors assessed human Marfan syndrome vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype, focusing on individual contributions by Smad and ERK, with Notch3 signaling identified as a novel compensatory mechanism against TGF‐β‐driven pathology. [J Cell Mol Med] Abstract Researchers investigated the molecular mechanism of nucleolin‐mediated phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) inhibitors were used to observe the effect of Ang II on phenotypic transformation of VSMCs. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Extracellular Matrix News & ESC & iPSC News. | |
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REVIEWSStem Cell-Derived Cell Sheet Transplantation for Heart Tissue Repair in Myocardial Infarction The authors retrospectively summarize the current applications and strategy of stem cell-derived cell sheet technology for heart tissue repair in myocardial infarction. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSMuscular Dystrophy Collaboration Aims to Correct Muscle Stem Cells’ DNA Harvard University stem cell researchers led by Amy Wagers, PhD, are embarking on a major study of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Supported by research funding from Sarepta Therapeutics, under a multi-year collaboration agreement coordinated by Harvard’s Office of Technology Development, the project aims to use in vivo genome editing, in mouse models of DMD, to fully and precisely restore the function of the dystrophin protein, which is crucial for proper muscular growth and development. [Harvard University] Press Release Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Duchenne UK have entered into a partnership for a Phase II trial of edasalonexent, a novel NF-kB inhibitor, in non-ambulatory DMD patients. [Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release Amicus Therapeutics announced clinical, regulatory and manufacturing advancements for AT-GAA, its investigational therapy for Pompe disease. [Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and AavantiBio announced the award of MDA Venture Philanthropy funding totaling $1,076,232 to advance AavantiBio’s Phase II clinical trial of a gene-replacement therapy for the disease. [The Muscular Dystrophy Association] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSFDA and NIH Let Clinical Trial Sponsors Keep Results Secret and Break the Law For 20 years, the US government has urged companies, universities, and other institutions that conduct clinical trials to record their results in a federal database, so doctors and patients can see whether new treatments are safe and effective. Few trial sponsors have consistently done so, even after a 2007 law made posting mandatory for many trials registered in the database. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Predatory-Journal Papers Have Little Scientific Impact Papers published in ‘predatory’ journals attract little attention from scientists, and get cited much less than those in reputable publications, an analysis shows. Predatory journals are those that charge authors high article-processing fees but don’t provide expected publishing services, such as peer review or other quality checks. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 4th DNA Repair/Replication Structures and Cancer Conference Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Tissue Engineering and Regeneration (Duke University) NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Muscle Stem Cell Biology (State University of New York) Doctoral Student – Biomedical Sciences (Linnaeus University) PhD Student – Aortic Disease (University Hospital of Cologne) Postdoctoral Fellow – Computation Systems and Skeletal Muscles (University of Luxembourg) Postdoctoral Researcher – Muscle Stem Cell Biology (University at Albany) Postdoctoral Researcher – Skeletal Muscle Aging (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital) Senior Scientist – Muscle Cell Biology (Shape Therapeutics) Asistant Professor – Ion Channels (University of Tennessee) Postdoctoral Researcher – Genome Editing in Cardiac Microtissues (The Jackson Laboratory) Assistant Specialist – Cardiovascular Medicine (University of California, Davis) 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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