Muscle Cell News Volume 2.03 | Jan 30 2017

TOP STORY

Snf1-Related Kinase Improves Cardiac Mitochondrial Efficiency and Decreases Mitochondrial Uncoupling

Scientists demonstrated that the AMP-activated protein kinase-related protein Snf1-related kinase decreased cardiac metabolic substrate usage and mitochondrial uncoupling, and protected against ischaemia/reperfusion. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Temporally Distinct Six2-Positive Second Heart Field Progenitors Regulate Mammalian Heart Development and Disease

Researchers showed that Six2 marks a dynamic subset of second heart field progenitors. Six2-positive progenitors were rapidly recruited and assigned, and their descendants were allocated successively to regions of the heart from the right ventricle to the pulmonary trunk. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Metformin Promotes the Survival of Transplanted Cardiosphere-Derived Cells Thereby Enhancing Their Therapeutic Effect against Myocardial Infarction

The authors aimed to determine whether metformin improves cardiosphere-derived cells (CDC) survival in the transplantation microenvironment and enhances the therapeutic effect of CDC transplantation against myocardial infarction. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Coordinated Proliferation and Differentiation of Human iPS Cell-Derived Cardiac Progenitor Cells Depends on BMP Signaling Regulation by Gremlin 2

Researchers showed that the secreted BMP antagonist GREMLIN2 (GREM2) is induced in cardiac progenitor cells shortly after cardiac mesoderm specification. GREM2 expression followed cardiac lineage differentiation independently of the differentiation protocol used, or the origin of human pluripotent stem cells, suggesting GREM2 is linked to cardiogenesis. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Beta-Agonist Stimulation Ameliorates the Phenotype of Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy Mice and Patient-Derived Myotubes

Expression of polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor (AR) causes damage to motor neurons and skeletal muscle cells. The authors investigated the effect of β-agonist stimulation in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy myotube cells derived from mice and patients, and in knock-in mice. They showed that treatment of myotubes expressing polyglutamine-expanded AR with the β-agonist clenbuterol increases their size. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Precocious Glucocorticoid Exposure Reduces Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells in the Fetal Rat

Precocious exposure of the fetus to glucocorticoids (GLC) in utero impairs muscle growth. Researchers tested the hypothesis that blunting of Pax7⁺ muscle progenitor cell proliferative activity by GLC in vivo also contributes to reduced fetal muscle growth. [J Endocrinol] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Endosialin Promotes Atherosclerosis through Phenotypic Remodeling of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The authors hypothesized that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC)-expressed endosialin may display functional involvement in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. They identified endosialin as a potential regulator of phenotypic remodeling of VSMC contributing to atherosclerosis. [Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol] Abstract

TGF-β1-Induced Differentiation of SHED into Functional Smooth Muscle Cells

Scientists investigated whether stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) could be induced to differentiate into functional vascular smooth muscle cells. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Impaired Relaxation of Airway Smooth Muscle in Mice Lacking the Actin Binding Protein Gelsolin

Investigators hypothesized that gelsolin plays a critical role in airway smooth muscle relaxation and mechanistically accounts for relaxation by ligands that transiently increase calcium concentration. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract

α-Iso-Cubebene Inhibits PDGF-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation by Suppressing Osteopontin Expression

Researchers examined the effect of α-iso-cubebene on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, a key feature of diverse vascular diseases. When VSMCs primary cultured from rat thoracic aorta were stimulated with PDGF, cell proliferation and osteopontin (OPN) expression were concomitantly up-regulated, but these effects were attenuated when cells were treated with MPIIIB10, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody for OPN. [PLoS One] Full Article

The Elusive Progenitor Cell in Cardiac Regeneration

The authors weigh emerging evidence, suggesting that the adult mammalian heart lacks a definable myocyte-generating progenitor cell of biological significance. [Circ Res] Abstract

In Vitro Models of the Cardiac Microenvironment to Study Myocyte and Non-Myocyte Crosstalk: Bioinspired Approaches beyond the Polystyrene Dish

The authors discuss the advancements in the development of more complex pluricellular physiological platforms that incorporate diverse cues from the myocardial microenvironment, which are expected to lead to more physiologically relevant cardiac tissue-like in vitro models for mechanistic biological research, disease modeling, therapeutic target identification, drug testing, and regeneration. [J Physiol] Abstract

Cells, Scaffolds and Their Interactions in Myocardial Tissue Regeneration

The authors review the principles and challenges of myocardial tissue regeneration with an emphasis on stem cells and scaffolds. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

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

PPMD Awards $250,000 Grant to UT Southwestern Medical Center to Explore CRISPR/Cas9 Technology

PPMD announced a $250,000 grant to be awarded to Dr. Eric Olson and the Department of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. This grant, part of PPMD’s Gene Transfer Initiative, will support Dr. Olson’s ongoing study of CRISPR/Cas9 technology as a potential treatment for Duchenne. [Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy] Press Release

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Boosts Vital Work of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) announced the foundation’s commitment to invest $279 million in IHME to expand its work over the next decade. [University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation] Press Release

National Institutes of Health Honors Research Leaders from University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University with Prestigious Outstanding Investigator Awards

Two internationally recognized medical research leaders from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have received Outstanding Investigator Awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The 7-year, $6.7 million dollar awards, which are the highest honor and largest individual support grants conferred by the NIH, will advance promising molecular studies of colon cancer and age-related cardiovascular risks, respectively. [University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center] Press Release

Trump Agenda Threatens US Legacy of Science Diplomacy

A newly minted leader with no experience governing at home or establishing policy abroad now oversees the United States’ vast diplomatic enterprise. US President Donald Trump has a deep bench of scientific and technical expertise to tap across multiple government agencies — but it is not clear that he will use it. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposium: Molecular Mechanisms of Heart Development
March 26-30, 2017
Keystone, Colorado, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Muscle Biology and Muscle Disease (University of Pennsylvania)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Cardiovascular Stem Cells (University of Oxford)

Department Head – Cardiovascular iPSC Research (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Epigenomics of Cardiac Development and iPSC/ESC Differentiation (Stanford Cardiovascular Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Actin and Myosin (Linnaeus University)

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

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

Cell Engineering Scientist – (Oxford Genetics Ltd.)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Research (Thomas Jefferson University)

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