Muscle Cell News Volume 2.00 | Jan 9 2017

TOP STORY

Research Reveals the Importance of Long Non-Coding RNA Regulating Cellular Processes

A team led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center revealed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) may be critically important for controlling cellular components in a tissue-specific manner. The new research points to an lncRNA’s key role in helping control processes related to muscle regeneration and cancer. [Press release from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Therapeutic Microparticles Functionalized with Biomimetic Cardiac Stem Cell Membranes and Secretome

Researchers fabricated a synthetic cell-mimicking microparticle (CMMP) that recapitulates stem cell functions in tissue repair. CMMPs carry similar secreted proteins and membranes as genuine cardiac stem cells do. In a mouse model of myocardial infarction, injection of CMMPs lead to the preservation of viable myocardium and augmentation of cardiac functions similar to cardiac stem cell therapy. [Nat Commun] Full Article

In Vivo Maturation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes in Neonatal and Adult Rat Hearts

The authors hypothesized that the neonatal rat heart would bring transplanted human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) to maturity as it grows to adult size. In neonatal rat heart, engrafted hiPSC derivatives developed partially matured myofibrils after three months, with increasing cell size and sarcomere length. There was no difference between grafts from hiPSC-CMs or hiPSC-derived cardiac progenitors at three months, nor was maturation influenced by infarction. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Engineered Extracellular Microenvironment with a Tunable Mechanical Property for Controlling Cell Behavior and Cardiomyogenic Fate of Cardiac Stem Cells

Researchers demonstrated that tunable three-dimensional-engineered microenvironments created by gelatin-poly(ethylene glycol)-tyramine hydrogel are able to control cardiac stem cell behavior and to direct cardiomyogenic fate. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Injury-Induced Senescence Enables In Vivo Reprogramming in Skeletal Muscle

Scientists showed that acute and chronic injury enables transcription-factor-mediated reprogramming in skeletal muscle. Lineage tracing indicates that this response frequently originates from Pax7+ muscle stem cells. Injury was associated with accumulation of senescent cells, and advanced aging or local irradiation further enhanced in vivo reprogramming, while selective elimination of senescent cells reduced reprogramming efficiency. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Praja1 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Promotes Skeletal Myogenesis through Degradation of EZH2 upon p38α Activation

In skeletal muscle progenitors enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2), the catalytic subunit of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, contributes to maintain the chromatin of muscle genes in a repressive conformation, whereas its down-regulation allows the progression through the myogenic programme. Investigators showed that p38α kinase promotes EZH2 degradation in differentiating muscle cells through phosphorylation of threonine 372. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Cxcl14 Depletion Accelerates Skeletal Myogenesis by Promoting Cell Cycle Withdrawal

The authors describe chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14 (Cxcl14) as a novel negative regulator of skeletal myogenesis. They found that Cxcl14 expression in myoblasts prevented cell cycle withdrawal, thereby inhibiting subsequent differentiation. [NPJ Regenerative Medicine] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Nedd4 Deficiency in Vascular Smooth Muscle Promotes Vascular Calcification by Stabilizing pSmad1

The authors identified NEDD4 E3 ligase as a key suppressor of BMP/Smad pathway via a polyubiquitination dependent selective degradation of C-terminal phosphorylated Smad1 activated by TGF-β. They further validated and confirmed the role of Nedd4 in in vivo vascular calcification progression. [J Bone Miner Res] Abstract

β2-Adrenoreceptor Inverse Agonist Down-Regulates Muscarine Cholinergic Subtype-3 Receptor and Its Downstream Signal Pathways in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro

Mechanisms underlying β2-adrenoreceptor inverse agonist mediated bronchoprotectiveness remain unknown. Scientists incubated ICI118,551, formoterol, budesonide, and formoterol plus budesonide, as well as ICI118,551 or pindolol plus formoterol, ICI118,551 plus forskolin, SQ22,536 or H89 plus formoterol in airway smooth muscle cells to detect expressions of M₃R, PLCβ₁ and IP₃. [Sci Rep] Full Article

KCNQ1 Variants Associate with Hypertension in Type 2 Diabetes and Affect Smooth Muscle Contractility In Vitro

Investigators explored the association between KCNQ1 polymorphisms and hypertension risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as the role of KCNQ1 in vascular smooth muscle cell contraction in vitro. They found smooth muscle cell contractility was inhibited by treatment with a KCNQ1 inhibitor. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

MiR-23b Controls TGF-β1 Induced Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation via Direct Targeting of Smad3

Researchers reported that miR-23b inhibited airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) proliferation through directly targeting of Smad3. They showed that miR-23b up-regulation significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced ASMCs proliferation and promoted apoptosis. MiR-23b negatively regulated the expression of Smad3 in ASMCs. Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System demonstrated that Smad3 was a direct target of miR-23b. [Pulm Pharmacol Ther] Abstract

Keep Your Friends Close: Cell-Cell Contact and Skeletal Myogenesis

Lineage-specific transcriptional regulation lies at the core of the development of skeletal muscle, but myogenesis is also regulated by extracellular cues. The authors discuss how some of these cues are initiated by direct cell–cell contact between muscle precursor cells themselves or between muscle precursors and cells of other lineages. [Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol] Abstract

Possible Muscle Repair in the Human Cardiovascular System

The authors review pathways and mechanisms involved in the in vivo repair of cardiovascular muscle tissues in humans. Moreover, they address the ongoing research on mammalian cardiac muscle repair based on adult stem cell transplantation and pro-regenerative factor delivery. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

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

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Awards Nationwide Children’s Hospital $2.2 Million Grant to Explore Gene Therapy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy announced a $2.2 million grant to be awarded to Jerry Mendell, MD, PhD; co-PI Louise Rodino-Klapac, PhD; and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio. This grant will support Drs. Mendell and Rodino-Klapac and their team’s work in exploring gene therapy as a potential treatment for Duchenne. [Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Argenx Launches Phase II Proof-of-Concept Study of ARGX-113 for the Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

Argenx announced the initiation of a Phase II proof-of-concept study of ARGX-113 in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). The double-blind, placebo controlled Phase II study will enrol up to 24 MG patients with confirmed generalized muscle weakness. [Argenx] Press Release

Alexion Submits U.S. And EU Applications Seeking Approval of Soliris^® (Eculizumab) as a Treatment for Patients with Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (GMG)

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the company has submitted marketing applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency to extend the indication for Soliris^® (eculizumab) as a treatment for patients with refractory generalized myasthenia gravis who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive. [Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

FASEB Launches Survey on Shared Research Resources

FASEB launched a survey of researchers’ experiences with shared research resources. [Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposium: mRNA Processing and Human Disease (C3)
March 5-8, 2017
Taos, New Mexico, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Actin and Myosin (Linnaeus University)

NEW Associate Professorship – Cell Biology & Physiology (University of Copenhagen)

NEW Assistant/Associate Professor – Physiology and Cell Biology (University of Nevada)

NEW Assistant/Associate/Professor Faculty Position(s) – Physiology (East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine)

NEW Assistant Professor – Heart Tissue Regeneration (University of Cincinnati)

NEW Cell Engineering Scientist (Oxford Genetics Ltd.)

NEW Multiple Postdoctoral Fellowship(s) – Cardiac Signal Processing and Instrumentation (Massachusetts General Hospital)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Research (Thomas Jefferson University)

Scientist(s) – Various Biological Research Areas (Sanofi)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Ion Channel Signaling and Metabolism (University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine)

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