Muscle Cell News Volume 1.17 | Jul 11 2016

TOP STORY

Asymmetric Division of Clonal Muscle Stem Cells Coordinates Muscle Regeneration In Vivo

Investigators defined a zebrafish muscle stem cell population analogous to the mammalian satellite cell and imaged the entire process of muscle regeneration from injury to fiber replacement in vivo. This analysis revealed complex interactions between satellite cells and both injured and uninjured fibers and provides in vivo evidence for the asymmetric division of satellite cells driving both self-renewal and regeneration via a clonally restricted progenitor pool. [Science] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

β-Arrestin-Biased Signaling through the β2-Adrenergic Receptor Promotes Cardiomyocyte Contraction

With similar efficacy to carvedilol, Intracellular loop (ICL)1-9 was able to promote β₂AR phosphorylation, β-arrestin recruitment, β₂AR internalization, and β-arrestin-biased signaling. ICL1-9 was also able to induce β₂AR- and β-arrestin-dependent and Ca²⁺-independent contractility in primary adult murine cardiomyocytes, whereas carvedilol had no efficacy. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Recovery of Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage in Cisd2-Deficient Cardiomyocytes by Sustained Release of Ferulic Acid from Injectable Hydrogel

Thermosensitive chitosan-gelatin-based hydrogel containing ferulic acid was used to treat Cisd2-deficient (Cisd2^-/-) cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of Cisd2^-/- murine under oxidative stress. [Biomaterials] Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

miR-182 Regulates Metabolic Homeostasis by Modulating Glucose Utilization in Muscle

The authors showed that miR-182 is highly expressed in fast-twitch muscle and negatively correlates with blood glucose level. miR-182 knockout mice displayed muscle loss, fast-to-slow fiber-type switching, and impaired glucose metabolism. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Prolonged Culture of Aligned Skeletal Myotubes on Micromolded Gelatin Hydrogels

Scientists successfully maintained aligned skeletal myotubes differentiated from C2C12 mouse skeletal myoblasts for three weeks by utilizing micromolded gelatin hydrogels as culture substrates, which they thoroughly characterized using atomic force microscopy. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

Metformin Inhibits Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Derived Ketoacidosis and Promotes Metabolic Homeostasis in MSUD

A murine model of intermediate Maple Syrup Urine Disease showed (MSUD) significant skeletal muscle dysfunction as by judged decreased muscle fiber diameter. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Reactive Oxygen Species Derived from NADPH Oxidase 1 and Mitochondria Mediate Angiotensin II-Induced Smooth Muscle Cell Senescence

Researchers investigated the roles of two NADPH oxidase isoforms in mitochondrial dysfunction during angiotensin II-induced cellular senescence of human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. [J Mol Cell Cardiol] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Integrative Functional Genomics Identifies Regulatory Mechanisms at Coronary Artery Disease Loci

Scientists used integrative genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic profiling of perturbed human coronary artery smooth muscle cells and tissues to begin to identify causal regulatory variation and mechanisms responsible for coronary artery disease associations. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Exploring Chromosomal Abnormalities and Genetic Changes in Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors

Researchers investigated a well-characterized group of challenging uterine smooth muscle tumors consisting of 20 leiomyomas, 13 leiomyomas with bizarre nuclei, and 14 leiomyosarcomas for copy number alterations, MED12 mutations and FH deletions to search for potential diagnostically useful surrogate markers. [Mod Pathol] Abstract

Thromboxane A2 Activates YAP/TAZ to Induce Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Migration

Investigators report that thromboxane A2 receptor signaling induces vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation through activating YAP/TAZ, two major downstream effectors of the Hippo signaling pathway. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Inherited Heart Disease: What Can We Expect from the Second Decade of Human iPS Cells Research?

The authors summarize the progress made with human induced pluripotent stem cells as cardiac disease models with special focus on the latest mechanistic insights and related challenges. [FEBS Lett] Abstract | Full Article

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

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Announces the Initiation of an Open-Label Extension for the MoveDMD® Trial Studying Edasalonexent (CAT-1004) in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of an open-label extension for the Phase II portion (Part B) of the MoveDMD trial studying edasalonexent, an investigational therapy, in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

NHS England Enables Access to Translarna™ (ataluren) For Patients with Nonsense Mutation Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the company and NHS England have successfully negotiated a Managed Access Agreement for Translarna for ambulatory patients aged five years and older with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [PTC Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Beat It, Impact Factor! Publishing Elite Turns against Controversial Metric

A paper posted to the preprint server bioRxiv, authored by senior employees at several leading science publishers (including Nature’s owner, SpringerNature), calls on journals to downplay the figure in favour of a metric that captures the range of citations that a journal’s articles attract. [Nature News] Editorial | Article

The Past, Present and Future of the PhD Thesis

According to one of those often-quoted statistics that should be true but probably isn’t, the average number of people who read a PhD thesis all the way through is 1.6. And that includes the author. More interesting might be the average number of PhD theses that the typical scientist — and reader of Nature — has read from start to finish. [Nature News] Editorial

Canada’s Health Funder Agrees to Meet with Researchers Outraged by Peer-Review Changes

Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) President Alain Beaudet said the agency will heed Jane Philpott’s request to “convene a working meeting in the very near future with key representatives of the research community, including those who have raised this issue publicly, to find common ground and move forward with solutions that address the issues raised with regard to the quality and integrity of CIHR’s peer review system.” [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 4^th International Oncology Conference
September 29-30, 2016
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetics and Cell Differentiation (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Muscle Energetics (National Institutes of Health)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Muscle Biology (University of Texas Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mammalian Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells (UCSF)

Post-Doc/Associate Specialist – Autophagy (Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Muscle Biology (University of Michigan)

PhD Position – Phosphoinositides and Related Proteins Mutated in Myopathies (CERBM)

Associate Professor/Professor – Cardiovascular Research (Monash University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Regeneration of the Mammalian Heart (UT Southwestern Medical Center)

PhD Position – Muscle Fiber Type Switch in Congenital Myopathies (King’s College London)

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