Muscle Cell News 1.25 September 19, 2016 | |
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TOP STORYRecent work has shown that excitation–contraction coupling fails in muscle from mice and fish null for the protein Stac3 but did not establish the functional role of Stac3 in the CaV1.1–RyR1 interaction. The authors investigated this using both tsA201 cells and Stac3 KO myotubes. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSSmall changes of Na/K pump activity regulate internal Ca release in cardiac myocytes via Na/Ca exchange. The authors showed that transient elevations of cytoplasmic Ca strongly regulate cardiac Na/K pumps. [eLife] Abstract | Download Full Article Researchers used human embryonic stem cells to analyze systematically in human cardiomyocyte development the expression of endogenous Wnt signaling components, monitor pathway activity, and dissect stage-specific requirements for canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling mechanisms using small-molecule inhibitors. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Researchers investigated the effects of fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α activator, on cell hypertrophy and adiponectin expression in vitro and in a rat model of daunorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. [J Atheroscler Thromb] Full Article The authors present data integrating single-cell transcriptome and whole-genome DNA methylome analyses of mouse myocyte-derived cardiac progenitor cells to understand the epigenomic reprogramming governing their intrinsic cellular plasticity. [Sci Data] Full Article SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSReduced Notch Signaling Leads to Postnatal Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy in Pofut1cax/cax Mice Researchers analyzed the consequences of downregulated expression of the Pofut1 gene on postnatal muscle growth in mutant Pofut1cax/cax (cax, compact axial skeleton) mice and differentiation of their satellite cell-derived myoblasts. Pofut1cax/cax mice exhibited muscle hypertrophy, no hyperplasia and a decrease in satellite cell numbers compared with wild-type C3H mice. [Open Biol] Full Article A new cell-laden scaffold was developed that supplies micro/nano-topological cues and promotes efficient release of cells. The hierarchical structure consisted of poly(ε-caprolactone) macrosized struts for sustaining a three-dimensional structural shape, aligned nanofibers obtained with optimized electrospinning, and cell-printed myoblasts. Importantly, the printed myoblasts were fully safe and were efficiently released from the cell-laden struts to neighboring nanofiber networks. [Biofabrication] Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSIn benign prostatic hyperplasia, increased prostate smooth muscle tone and prostate volume may contribute alone or together to urethral obstruction and voiding symptoms. Consequently, connections between smooth muscle tone and growth in the prostate have been assumed, but any molecular basis for such a link is poorly understood. Researchers examined effects of Src family kinase inhibitors on prostate smooth muscle contraction, and growth of stromal cells. [Br J Pharmacol] Abstract Investigators showed that induction of smooth muscle cell (SMC) FGF signaling inhibits TGFβ signaling and converts contractile SMCs to the proliferative phenotype. Conversely, inhibition of SMC FGF signaling induces TGFβ signaling converting proliferating SMCs to the contractile phenotype, even in the presence of various growth factors in vitro or vascular injury in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article Researchers investigated the potential role and mechanisms of the microRNA (miR)-143-3p on proliferation and the extracellular matrix protein production of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). They demonstrated that miR-143-3p was aberrantly lower in ASMCs isolated from individuals with asthma than in individuals without asthma. [Mol Immunol] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSGenome Editing in Cardiovascular Diseases The authors discuss the applications of genome-editing technology throughout cardiovascular disease research and the prospect of in vivo genome-editing therapies in the future. They also describe some of the existing limitations of genome-editing tools that will need to be addressed if cardiovascular genome editing is to achieve its full scientific and therapeutic potential. [Nat Rev Cardiol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSFDA Grants Accelerated Approval to First Drug for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Exondys 51 (eteplirsen) injection, the first drug approved to treat patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release Novartis announced positive results of the Phase III EXPAND study showing that oral once-daily BAF312 significantly reduced the risk of disability progression compared with placebo in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. [Novartis] Press Release Stealth BioTherapeutics Reports Elamipretide Improved Skeletal Muscle Bioenergetics in the Elderly Stealth BioTherapeutics announced results from the MOTION Trial. This clinical trial evaluated the systemic delivery of elamipretide on skeletal muscle function in elderly subjects with reduced mitochondrial function, and demonstrated improved mitochondrial energy production after treatment. This increase in mitochondrial bioenergetics was comparable to the improvement resulting from six months of exercise training, shown in a similar patient population in other trials. [Stealth BioTherapeutics] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSNIH Aims to Beef Up Clinical Trial Design as Part of New Data Sharing Rules Drug companies and academic researchers will have to step up their public reporting of clinical trial results under new federal policies. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also laid out a new plan for submitting clinical trial proposals that aims to beef up the rigor of the studies. [Science Insider] Editorial Europe Proposes Copyright Reform to Help Scientists Mine Research Papers The European Commission has announced long-awaited plans to make it easier for researchers to harvest facts and data from research papers — by freeing the computer-aided activity from the shackles of copyright law. [Nature News] Editorial Reproducibility: Respect Your Cells! Numerous variables can torpedo attempts to replicate cell experiments, from the batch of serum to the shape of growth plates. But there are ways to ensure reliability. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 3rd Annual Stem Cell Congress 2016 Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW National Field Product Service Specialist (Cook MyoSite) NEW Research and Development Specialist- Muscle Stem Cell (NestlĂ© Institute of Health Sciences) Faculty Position – Biomedical Metabolomics and Metabolism (University of Ottawa) Postdoctoral Position – Lipid Metabolism (Baylor College of Medicine) Project Scientist – Muscle Metabolism (University of California, Berkeley) Chair – Medical Biology (Masaryk University) Faculty Positions – Cell and Molecular Physiology (Loyola University Chicago) Faculty Positions – Genetics and Genomics (Boston University) Research Technician – Muscle Growth and Wasting (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) Postdoctoral Position – Cardiovascular Stem Cell Biology (Yale University) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics (L’Institut du Thorax) 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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Home Muscle Cell News Volume 1.25 | Sep 19 2016