Muscle Cell News 1.34 November 28, 2016 | |
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TOP STORYIntronic Polyadenylation of PDGFRα in Resident Stem Cells Attenuates Muscle Fibrosis Researchers showed in mice that platelet-derived growth factor receptor (αPDGFRα) signaling regulates a population of muscle-resident fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) that play a supportive role in muscle regeneration but may also cause fibrosis when aberrantly regulated. They found that FAPs produce multiple transcriptional variants of Pdgfra with different polyadenylation sites, including an intronic variant that codes for a protein isoform containing a truncated kinase domain. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSInvestigators evaluated the role of donor age and hypoxia of human pediatric cardiac progenitor cell (CPC)-derived exosomes, in a rat model of ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Human CPCs from the right atrial appendages from children of different ages undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects were isolated and cultured under hypoxic or normoxic conditions. Exosomes were isolated from the culture-conditioned media and delivered to athymic rats following IR injury. [Circ Res] Abstract Researchers compared the functional characteristics of endothelial progenitor cells, right atrial cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) and left ventricular CPCs isolated from the same patients. This study provides the first evidence that progenitor cells from different regions exhibit functional differences within the same patient. [Int J Cardiol] Abstract | Press Release The Popeye domain containing1, also called Bves (Popdc1/Bves), is a transmembrane protein that functions in muscle regeneration, heart rate regulation, hypoxia tolerance, and ischemia preconditioning. The expression of Popdc1/Bves is elevated in cardiomyocytes maintained in serum free defined medium. The authors hypothesized that Popdc1/Bves is important for cardiomyocyte survival under the stress of serum deprivation and investigated the mechanisms involved. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract Decellularized Zebrafish Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Induces Mammalian Heart Regeneration Investigators hypothesized that decellularized zebrafish cardiac ECM (zECM) made from normal or healing hearts can induce mammalian heart regeneration. Using zebrafish and mice as representative species of lower vertebrates and mammals, they showed that a single administration of zECM, particularly the healing variety, enables cardiac functional recovery and regeneration of adult mouse heart tissues after acute myocardial infarction. [Sci Adv] Abstract | Press Release Using the causal modeling algorithm NEO, researchers identified the gene Adamts2 as a putative regulator of this module and validated the predictive value of NEO using small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Adamts2 silencing regulated the expression of the genes residing within the module and impaired isoproterenol-induced cellular hypertrophy. Their results provide a view of higher order interactions in heart failure with potential for diagnostic and therapeutic insights. [Cell Syst] Full Article | Graphical Abstract SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSTwo Tissue-Resident Progenitor Lineages Drive Distinct Phenotypes of Heterotopic Ossification Investigators found diverse phenotypes of heterotopic ossification found in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva are rooted in cell-autonomous effects of dysregulated ACVR1 signaling in nonoverlapping tissue-resident progenitor pools. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract Scientists report that embryonic myogenic progenitors lacking the phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) exhibited enhanced proliferation and differentiation, resulting in muscle hypertrophy but fewer satellite cells in adult muscles. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Nfix Induces a Switch in Sox6 Transcriptional Activity to Regulate MyHC-I Expression in Fetal Muscle Investigators showed that Sox6 plays opposite roles in MyHC-I regulation, acting as a positive and negative regulator of MyHC-I expression during embryonic and fetal myogenesis, respectively. During embryonic myogenesis, Sox6 positively regulates MyHC-I via transcriptional activation of Mef2C, whereas during fetal myogenesis, Sox6 requires and cooperates with the transcription factor Nfix in repressing MyHC-I expression. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSThe objective of this study was to indicate the regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation in vascular smooth muscle cells and its roles in atherosclerosis. The inhibitory effects of DNA demethylation on global 5-methylcytosine content and ten–eleven translocation 2 hypermethylation in atherosclerotic aorta can recover 5-hydroxymethylcytosine enrichment at the Myocardin promoter and prevent VSMC dedifferentiation and vascular remodeling. [Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol] Abstract Researchers demonstrated for the first time that dysregulation of Elovl6‐driven long‐chain fatty acid metabolism induces phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) via reactive oxygen species production and AMPK/KLF4 signaling that leads to growth arrest and downregulation of VSMC marker expression. [J Am Heart Assoc] Full Article Migration, invasion, adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are important processes that contribute to the build-up of atherosclerotic plaques. The authors reported the use of functional assays of these behaviors to investigate whether other maspin-derived peptides impact directly on VSMC; focusing on potential anti-atherogenic properties. They present evidence for a mechanism whereby strand 4 and 5 of beta sheet B (S4B and S5B) act through ERK1/2 and AMP-activated protein kinase to influence VSMC responses. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | |
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REVIEWSPerivascular Cells and Tissue Engineering: Current Applications and Untapped Potential The authors discuss the potential of perivascular cells in the development of tissue engineering solutions for healthcare. They examine their application in the engineering of vascular grafts, cardiac patches and bone substitutes as well as other tissue engineering applications and they focus on their extensive use in the vascularization of engineered constructs. [Pharmacol Ther] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSCapricor Therapeutics to Present at the 28th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference Capricor Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing biological therapies for cardiac and other serious medical conditions, announced that Linda Marbán, Ph.D. is scheduled to present at the 28th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference. [Press release from Capricor Therapeutics Inc. discussing research presented at the 28th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference, New York City] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSThe ALS Society of Canada, in partnership with Brain Canada, announced $4.5 million in funding for nine new ALS research projects. [The ALS Society of Canada] Press Release $25 Million Awarded to Center for Study of Regulatory Science The FDA is funding a collaboration between Stanford and the University of California San Francisco to improve the regulatory infrastructure that helps to shape modern biomedical research. [Stanford Medicine] Press Release The Stem Cell Network with the support of the Canadian Minister of Science announced funding of $9 million for innovative stem cell and regenerative medicine research that will help translate discoveries into better health and economic growth for Canadians. This funding was made available thanks to a 2016 budget commitment of $12 million over two years by the Government of Canada to further the work of the Stem Cell Network. [The Stem Cell Network] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSKCU Med Student Research Finds Lack of Funding for Cardiac Arrest Research from Kansas City University found that on a per death basis the National Institutes of Health awards approximately $2,200 for stroke, $2,100 for heart disease but only $91 for cardiac arrest. The research was conducted during a one-year fellowship sponsored by the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation. [Kansas City Univeristy] Editorial Congress Poised to Pass Sweeping Biomedical Innovation Bill Congress is poised to approve a massive piece of legislation that would provide the National Institutes of Health with $4.8 billion over the next decade for a set of research initiatives, including brain and cancer research and efforts to develop so-called precision medicine treatments that are tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Spanish Military Flies Lab Animals to Canary Islands after Airlines Refuse to Take Them on Board Twenty-nine transgenic mice that two Spanish airlines had refused to transport hitched a ride to the Canary Islands on a military plane Friday and are now at their final destination, the University of La Laguna on Tenerife in Spain. The mice, bred in the United States, had been stranded in Madrid for two months because Iberia and Air Europa have stopped shipping laboratory animals. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Cardiovascular Research (Oslo University Hospital) NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Cardiovascular Research (Columbia University Medical Center) 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) 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 1.34 | Nov 28 2016