Muscle Cell News 1.33 November 21, 2016 | |
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TOP STORYUsing lineage tracing, murine models of heart calcification and in vivo transplantation assays, investigators showed that cardiac fibroblasts adopt an osteoblast cell-like fate and contribute directly to heart muscle calcification. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSMitochondrial Ferritin Protects the Murine Myocardium from Acute Exhaustive Exercise Injury Mitochondrial ferritin (FtMt) overexpression in cultured cells protects against oxidative damage by sequestering redox-active, intracellular iron. Scientists found that acute exhaustive exercise significantly increases FtMt expression in the murine heart. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Aspirin Upregulates αB-Crystallin to Protect the Myocardium against Heat Stress in Broiler Chickens Investigators established in vivo and in vitro models to investigate the role of αB-Crystallin and assess the ability of aspirin to protect the myocardium during prolonged heat stress. [Sci Rep] Full Article The authors compared the survival, proliferation, migration and differentiation potential of cardiosphere-derived cells and mesenchymal stem cells, and evaluation of their response to hypoxia–reoxygenation injury. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSThe authors found reduced expression of Smad4, the downstream cofactor for canonical TGFβ superfamily signaling, and the target Id1 in aged stem cells (SCs) and myogenic progenitors during regeneration. Specific deletion of Smad4 in adult mouse SCs led to increased propensity for terminal myogenic commitment connected to impaired proliferative potential. [eLife] Abstract | Full Article (Download) Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) involves sporadic expression of DUX4, which inhibits myogenesis and is pro-apoptotic. To identify target genes, researchers over-expressed DUX4 in myoblasts and found that the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret was significantly up-regulated, suggesting a role in FSHD. [eLife] Full Article Scientists showed that adult trafficking isoforms are also expressed in adult skeletal muscle and hypothesized that striated muscle utilizes alternative splicing to generate specific isoforms required for function of adult tissue. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract The authors showed that muscle fibers secrete and concentrate the fibroblast growth factor binding protein 1 (FGFBP1) at neuromuscular junctions. [J Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release Investigators demonstrated that increased NF-κB activity in aged muscle fibers contributes to diminished myogenic potential of their associated satellite cells. They further examined the impact of genetic modulation of NF-κB signaling in muscle satellite cells or myofibers on recovery after damage. [Aging (Albany NY)] Full Article Scientists used human Sk-SCs to reconstitute the function after long nerve-gap injury. [PLoS One] Full Article SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSScientists investigated whether the down-regulation of protein kinase C-ε is involved in the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation caused by prolonged phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) incubation. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article Cell culture and carotid injury studies with SD rats were performed to investigate the roles of CD34+ vascular wall-resident stem/progenitor cells and vascular smooth muscle cells in neointimal formation. [Exp Mol Pathol] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSAnisotropic Materials for Skeletal-Muscle-Tissue Engineering The authors provide an overview of fundamental concepts associated with muscle-tissue engineering and the current status of muscle-tissue-engineering approaches. [Adv Mater] Abstract The authors discuss how the deletion of proprotein convertase Mbtps1 in bone osteocytes leads to a significant postnatal increase in skeletal muscle size and contractile function, while causing only a 25% increase in stiffness in long bones. [Bonekey Rep] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSMallinckrodt plc confirmed that it will initiate a company-sponsored, Phase II proof-of-concept clinical trial to assess the efficacy of H.P. Acthar® Gel in patients with Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis. [Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals plc.] Press Release Summit Enrolls Patients in the US into PhaseOut DMD, a Phase II Clinical Trial of Ezutromid Summit Therapeutics plc announced that it has enrolled its first patients at trial sites in the US into PhaseOut DMD, a Phase II proof of concept clinical trial of ezutromid in patients with DMD. Ezutromid dosing is expected to follow within a screening period of up to 28 days. Enrolment and dosing of patients into PhaseOut DMD in the UK is ongoing. Ezutromid is a utrophin modulator and represents a potential disease modifying treatment for all patients with DMD. [Summit Therapeutics plc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSCautious Welcome for UK’s Vague £2 Billion Research Pledge UK scientists have welcomed a surprise government promise to invest an extra £2 billion (US$2.5 billion) per year into research and development by 2020 – although details of the pledge will not be made clear for at least another two days. [Nature News] Editorial Conservatives, Liberals Team Up against Animal Research “Painful, bizarre, and wasteful experiments.” Buying dogs “just to cut them apart … and kill them.” These statements might sound like the rhetoric used by extreme animal rights groups, but they come from White Coat Waste—a new, unlikely coalition of fiscal conservatives and liberal activists that aims to end federal funding for research involving dogs and other animals by targeting people’s pocketbooks in addition to their heartstrings. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Translational Opportunities in Stem Cell Research Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Western Research Chair – Musculoskeletal Health (Western University Canada) PhD – Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular Cell Biology (Max-Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine) Postdoctoral Associate – Integrative Biology & Physiology (University of Minnesota) Research Associate – Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology (King’s College London) Assistant Professor – Biomedical Engineering (Univesrity of South Dakota) National Field Product Service Specialist (Cook MyoSite) 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 1.33 | Nov 21 2016