Muscle Cell News Volume 2.09 | Mar 20 2017

TOP STORY

Adrenergic Signaling Strengthens Cardiac Myocyte Cohesion

Scientists revealed via atomic force microscopy that β-adrenergic signaling enhanced both the number of desmoglein 2 (Dsg2)-specific interactions along cell junctions and the mean Dsg2-mediated binding forces, whereas N-cadherin-mediated interactions were not affected. This was accompanied by increased cell cohesion in cardiac myocyte cultures and murine heart slices. [Circ Res] Abstract

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CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Doxorubicin Induces Cardiotoxicity through Upregulation of Death Receptors Mediated Apoptosis in Cardiomyocytes

Researchers investigated doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity in human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes (iPS-CMs). They found that doxorubicin and related anthracycline agents (e.g., daunorubicin, idarubicin, and epirubicin) significantly upregulated the expression of death receptors in iPS-CMs at both protein and mRNA levels. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Non-Invasive In Vivo Imaging of Cardiac Stem/Progenitor Cell Biodistribution and Retention after Intracoronary and Intramyocardial Delivery in a Swine Model of Chronic Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

This study was designed to determine by a non-invasive imaging technique the biodistribution and acute retention of allogeneic pig cardiac stem/progenitor cell implanted by two different delivery routes, intracoronary and intramyocardial, in a swine preclinical model of chronic ischemia–reperfusion. [J Transl Med] Full Article

The Acceleration of Cardiomyogenesis in Embryonic Stem Cells In Vitro by Serum Depletion Does Not Increase the Number of Developed Cardiomyocytes

Investigators evaluated modest modifications of the basic protocol for embryonic stem cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes in order to increase the yield and differentiation status of developed cardiomyocytes. [PLoS One] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

In Vitro Drug Testing Based on Contractile Activity of C2C12 Cells in an Epigenetic Drug Model

The authors demonstrated an in vitro drug testing system using tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs. In response to epigenetic drugs, myotube differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells was promoted in two-dimensional cell cultures, but the levels of contractile force generation of tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs prepared by three-dimensional cell cultures were not correlated with the levels of myotube differentiation in two-dimensional cell cultures. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Malat1 Regulates Myogenic Differentiation and Muscle Regeneration through Modulating MyoD Transcriptional Activity

Scientists characterized the function of Malat1 in skeletal muscle cells and muscle regeneration. Utilizing both in vitro and in vivo assays, they demonstrated that Malat1 has a role in regulating gene expression during myogenic differentiation of myoblast cells. [Cell Discov] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Loss of LMOD1 Impairs Smooth Muscle Cytocontractility and Causes Megacystis Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome in Humans and Mice

Investigators showed the loss of leiomodin1 (LMOD1) resulted in a reduction of filamentous actin, elongated cytoskeletal dense bodies, and impaired intestinal smooth muscle contractility. These results define LMOD1 as a disease gene for megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome and suggest its role in establishing normal smooth muscle cytoskeletal–contractile coupling. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

Differential Gene Expression Profiling of Human Adipose Stem Cells Differentiating into Smooth Muscle-Like Cells by TGFβ1/BMP4

Researchers aimed to shed light on the smooth muscle differentiation of human adipose stem cells (hASCs). They first acquired hASCs from lipoaspirate samples. Upon characterization, the cells were induced to differentiate into smooth muscle-like cells using a variety of inducer combinations. TGFβ1/BMP4 combination had the highest differentiation efficiency, based on immunohistochemical analyses. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Claudin-1 Regulates Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation through the Activation of ERK1/2

Scientists aimed to explore whether claudin-1 (CLDN1) participated in the etiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Their study showed that CLDN1 expression was markedly increased in the lungs of rats with monocrotaline-induced PAH, especially in the pulmonary arterial smooth muscle (PASMC) sections. They also found that CLDN1 expression in primary human PASMCs was up-regulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), and the nuclear factor-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 suppressed CLDN1 up-regulation by TNF-a. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract

Remuscularization of the Failing Heart

This overview (1) introduces major challenges pertaining to myocardial remuscularization (cardiomyocyte retention, arrhythmogenicity, and tumorigenicity), (2) discusses studies addressing these challenges, and (3) suggests strategies to overcome remaining challenges for the translation of myocardial remuscularization. [J Physiol] Abstract

The Role and Molecular Mechanism of Non-Coding RNAs in Pathological Cardiac Remodeling

The authors summarize the latest research progress and mainly the molecular mechanism of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, in cardiac remodeling, aiming to look for new targets for heart disease treatment. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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

PTC Therapeutics Announces Agreement to Acquire Emflaza™ for the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in U.S.

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Marathon Pharmaceuticals, LLC to acquire all rights to Emflaza™. Emflaza is the first treatment approved in the United States for all Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients five years and older, regardless of their genetic mutation. [PTC Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

AB Science Announces Positive Top-Line Results of Final Analysis from Study AB10015 of Masitinib in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Also Known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease

AB Science SA announced that the Phase II/III study AB10015 of masitinib in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has met its pre-specified primary endpoint. This is the first successful Phase III trial of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor in the treatment of ALS, signifying masitinib as first-in-class for ALS, with a unique mechanism of action against microglia cells. [AB Science SA] Press Release

Rosalind Franklin University Announces Construction of New Innovation and Research Park

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science announced plans for a new Innovation and Research Park, providing state-of-the-art research labs and incubator space for faculty and commercial biotech startups. The expansion will also include space for national and international life science firms. [Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Jailed Iranian Researcher’s Health Worsening Rapidly

An Iranian researcher jailed in Tehran for the last 11 months is in declining health after spending more than two months on hunger strike. This month, researchers around the world made urgent appeals for his release. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump’s NIH Budget May Include Reducing Overhead Payments to Universities

The Trump administration may be planning to help pay for a massive 18% cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by slashing payments to universities and research institutes for overhead costs, ScienceInsider has learned. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW American Thoracic Society (ATS)
May 19-24, 2017
Washington D.C., United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Muscle (University of Oregon)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Stem Cell Biology and Endocrinology (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cellular Mechanobiology (University of Buffalo)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Heart Regeneration (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles – University of Southern California)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Cardiovascular Research (Rutgers New Jersey Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacogenomics (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell and Gene Therapy for Cardiac Arrhythmias (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genome Editing for Cardiac Muscle Regeneration (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Position – In Vitro Modeling of Human Skeletal Muscle Disease (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – hiPSC-Based Heart Repair (Duke University)

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

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

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