Muscle Cell News 2.04 February 6, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYEvidence for ACTN3 as a Genetic Modifier of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Investigators showed that a common null polymorphism in ACTN3 results in significantly reduced muscle strength and a longer 10 meter walk test time in young, ambulant patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSBlockade to Pathological Remodeling of Infarcted Heart Tissue Using a Porcupine Antagonist The authors have systematically assessed the effects of the Porcupine inhibitor on the regeneration of several tissue types to identify potentially unwanted chemical effects that could limit the therapeutic utility of such agents. An unanticipated observation from these studies was proregenerative responses in heart muscle induced by systemic chemical suppression of Wnt signaling. Using in vitro cultures of several cell types found in the heart, they delineated the Wnt signaling apparatus supporting an antiregenerative transcriptional program that includes a subunit of the nonfibrillar collagen VI. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release To better understand a mechanistic basis through which NOTCH1 contributes to heart development, investigators created human induced pluripotent stem cells from the hypoplastic left heart syndrome-affected parent-proband triad and differentiated into cardiovascular cell lineages for molecular characterization. [Stem Cells] Abstract Knockout of Eva1a Leads to Rapid Development of Heart Failure by Impairing Autophagy The authors generated inducible, cardiomyocyte-specific Eva1a knockout mice aiming to determine the role of Eva1a in cardiac remodeling in the adult heart. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Scientists focused on characterizing the proteome along human embryonic stem cells (hESC) in vitro differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture was applied to quantitatively assess the proteome throughout defined stages of hESC cardiomyogenesis. [J Proteome Res] Abstract SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSPalmdelphin Promotes Myoblast Differentiation and Muscle Regeneration Researchers found Palmdelphin (Palmd), a cytosolic protein, promotes myoblast differentiation. Palmd is predominantly expressed in the cytosol of myoblasts and is gradually up-regulated after differentiation. [Sci Rep] Full Article Human Muscle Precursor Cells Overexpressing PGC-1α Enhance Early Skeletal Muscle Tissue Formation The authors aimed to genetically modify human muscle precursor cells to overexpress the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC-1α), a key regulator of exercise-mediated adaptation, and thereby to enhance early skeletal muscle formation and quality. [Cell Transplant] Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSIdentification of BPIFA1/SPLUNC1 as an Epithelium-Derived Smooth Muscle Relaxing Factor Scientists showed that bacterial permeability family member A1 (BPIFA1) levels are reduced in sputum samples from asthmatic patients and that BPIFA1 is secreted basolaterally from healthy, but not asthmatic human bronchial epithelial cultures, where it suppresses airway smooth muscle contractility by binding to and inhibiting the Ca2+ influx channel Orai1. [Nat Commun] Full Article To date, there is no periadventitial drug delivery method available in the clinic to prevent restenotic failure of open vascular reconstructions. Resveratrol is a promising anti-restenotic natural drug but subject to low bioavailability when systemically administered. In order to reconcile these two prominent issues, researchers tested effects of periadventitial delivery of resveratrol on all three major pro-restenotic pathologies including intimal hyperplasia, endothelium impairment, and vessel shrinkage. [Sci Rep] Full Article Investigators hypothesized that hemoglobin (Hb) induced lipid peroxidation and subsequent endothelial cell trauma is linked to toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) activation, resulting in IL-6 mediated pulmonary smooth muscle cell proliferation. They examined the effects of Hb on rat pulmonary artery endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and then utilized TLR9 and IL-6 inhibitors, as well as the Hb and heme binding proteins to further elucidate the mediators. [PLoS One] Full Article | |
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REVIEWSRegulation of Muscle Growth and Regeneration by the Immune System The author discusses how investigations of the inflammatory response to muscle injury have now revealed that the apparently nonspecific inflammatory response to trauma is actually a complex and coordinated interaction between muscle and the immune system that determines the success or failure of tissue regeneration. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSCatabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced top-line safety and efficacy results for Part B of the MoveDMD® trial of edasalonexent (CAT-1004) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release Prize4Life Announces $1 Million ALS Treatment Prize Winner Prize4Life announced the winner of its $1 million Avi Kremer Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Treatment Prize. The winners are the team of Drs. Martine Barkats and Maria-Grazia Biferi, from the Institute of Myology INSERM UMPC. [Prize4life, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSUS Government Takes Animal-Welfare Data Offline The US Department of Agriculture agency charged with ensuring the humane treatment of large research animals, such as primates and goats, has quietly scrubbed all inspection reports and enforcement records from its website. The move has drawn criticism from animal-welfare and transparency activists who say the public has the right to know how their tax dollars are being used. [Nature News] Editorial Venezuela Is Running Short on HIV Meds—and Places to Turn for Help On top of its currency being in free fall for three years running, empty shelves at supermarkets, and electricity rationing, Venezuela has a serious shortage of medicines, including life-saving anti-HIV drugs. This led a network of Venezuelans living with HIV to seek “urgent humanitarian aid” in June 2016 from the Geneva, Switzerland–based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW hPSC Training Course: Reprogramming, Maintenance and Reversion to Naïve-Like State NEW Reversion of Primed hPSCs to Naive-Like State Training Course Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell and Gene Therapy for Cardiac Arrhythmias (Duke University) NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Genome Editing for Cardiac Muscle Regeneration (Duke University) NEW Postdoctoral Position – In Vitro Modeling of Human Skeletal Muscle Disease (Duke University) NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – hiPSC-based Heart Repair (Duke University) Postdoctoral Researcher – Muscle Biology and Muscle Disease (University of Pennsylvania) Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Cardiovascular Stem Cells (University of Oxford) Department Head – Cardiovascular iPSC Research (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute) Postdoctoral Researcher – Actin and Myosin (Linnaeus University) Assistant/Associate Professor – Physiology and Cell Biology (University of Nevada) Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Research (Thomas Jefferson University) 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 2.04 | Feb 6 2017