Muscle Cell News Volume 2.10 | Mar 27 2017

TOP STORY

Circ-ZNF609 Is a Circular RNA that Can Be Translated and Functions in Myogenesis

Scientists performed expression profiling of circular RNAs during in vitro differentiation of murine and human myoblasts. They identified conserved species regulated in myogenesis and altered in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A high-content functional genomic screen allowed the study of their functional role in muscle differentiation. One of them, circ-ZNF609, resulted in specifically controlling myoblast proliferation. [Mol Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Fabrication of Synthetic Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Mice

The authors aimed to fabricate synthetic analogs of stem cells and test their therapeutic potential for treatment of acute myocardial infarction in mice. [Circ Res] Abstract

Partial Reprogramming of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes into Neurons

Researchers demonstrated that partial direct reprogramming of mesoderm-derived cardiomyocytes into neurons is feasible, generating cells exhibiting structural and electrophysiological properties of both cardiomyocytes and neurons. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cardiac Cell Proliferation Is Not Necessary for Exercise-Induced Cardiac Growth but Required for Its Protection against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Using EdU and Ki-67 immunolabelling, investigators showed that exercise-induced cardiac cell proliferation was blunted by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The growth of heart in size and weight upon exercise was unaltered, due to the fact that exercise-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was not influenced by 5-FU as demonstrated by wheat germ agglutinin staining. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Intracoronary Allogeneic Cardiosphere-Derived Stem Cells Are Safe for Use in Dogs with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Scientists sought to determine the safety and efficacy of allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cells in a large animal model of spontaneous dilated cardiomyopathy. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

A Chemical Chaperone Improves Muscle Function in Mice with a RyR1 Mutation

The authors showed that the I4895T mutation in type 1 ryanodine receptor/Ca²⁺ release channel (RyR1) decreases the amplitude of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺ transient, resting cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels, muscle triadin content and calsequestrin localization to the junctional SR, and increases endoplasmic reticulum stress/unfolded protein response and mitochondrial ROS production. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Inducible and Deterministic Forward Programming of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Neurons, Skeletal Myocytes, and Oligodendrocytes

Investigators systematically optimized inducible gene expression in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) using a dual genomic safe harbor gene-targeting strategy. This approach provides a powerful platform for the generation of human cell types by forward programming. They reported robust and deterministic reprogramming of hPSCs into neurons and functional skeletal myocytes. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract | Video

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Inhibition of Smooth Muscle β-Catenin Hinders Neointima Formation after Vascular Injury

Scientists assessed the requirement for smooth muscle cell (SMC) β-catenin in short-term vascular homeostasis and in response to arterial injury and investigated the effects of β-catenin inhibitors on vascular SMC growth. [Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol] Abstract

Noncanonical NF-κB Mediates the Suppressive Effect of Neutrophil Elastase on IL-8/CXCL8 by Inducing NKRF in Human Airway Smooth Muscle

Neutrophil elastase (NE) suppresses IL-8/CXCL8 in human airway smooth muscle cells (hASM) while stimulating its production in respiratory epithelial cells. This differential effect is mediated by the selective induction of NKRF and dysregulation in chronic inflammatory diseases. Researchers hypothesized that the differential activation of NF-κB subunits confer the opposite effect of NKRF on IL-8/CXCL8 in primary hASM and A549 cells stimulated with NE. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Mending a Broken Heart: The Evolution of Biological Therapeutics

The authors focus on the recent advances in cell- and gene-based therapies in the context of cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the most advanced therapies. [Stem Cells] Full Article

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

Invitae Announces Expansion of Its Genetic Testing Offering to Include Unique Test for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Invitae Corporation announced the availability of a new genetic test for the diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy. The new test features a novel, custom methodology that offers significant improvements over current testing approaches. [Press release from Invitae Corporation discussing research presented at the 2017 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting, Phoenix] Press Release

Audentes Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Data from RECENSUS, a Medical Chart Review of Patients with X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM)

Audentes Therapeutics, Inc announced that data from RECENSUS, a medical chart review of patients with XLMTM, was presented. [Press release from Audentes Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2017 Muscular Dystrophy Association Scientific Conference, Arlington] Press Release

First Dedicated Outcome Trials of Empagliflozin in Chronic Heart Failure Initiated

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company announced that the EMPEROR HF clinical trial program was initiated. EMPEROR HF comprises two Phase III outcome studies that will investigate empagliflozin for the treatment of adults with chronic heart failure. [Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company] Press Release

Alexion Submits Application in Japan for Soliris^® (Eculizumab) as a Potential Treatment for Patients with Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG)

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has submitted an application to Japan’s Ministry of Labour and Welfare to extend the indication for Soliris^® as a potential treatment for patients with refractory generalized myasthenia gravis who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive. The submission is supported by comprehensive data from the Phase III REGAIN study. [Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Election Chaos at Russian Academy of Sciences

Academics at Russia’s premier science body have been left shocked and confused after an election that was supposed to determine the new president of the Russian Academy of Sciences was canceled at the last minute. [Nature News] Editorial

NIH Enables Investigators to Include Draft Preprints in Grant Proposals

Researchers should feel free to include preprints, or draft manuscripts that haven’t yet been gone through peer review, as part of their applications when they seek funding from the Bethesda, Maryland–based National Institutes of Health (NIH), the agency announced. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Data Check: NSF Sends Congress a Garbled Message on Misconduct Numbers

When a senior National Science Foundation (NSF) official told the House of Representatives science committee this month about a “significant rise in the number of substantive allegations” of research misconduct, her testimony set off alarm bells. Legislators from both parties were clearly disturbed by this trend, which had led to three dozen findings of misconduct a year, and asked what the Arlington, Virginia–based NSF was doing about it. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Dynamics in Health, Disease and Aging
May 21-26, 2017
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

NEW Cell Culture World Congress
May 23-24, 2017
San Diego, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Disease (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Research (Augusta University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Smooth Muscle (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Muscle (University of Oregon)

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

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

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