Muscle Cell News Volume 2.12 | Apr 10 2017

TOP STORY

Small Protein Is Fundamental to Muscle Formation

Researchers discovered a small protein named Myomixer essential for the formation of skeletal muscle – findings that could eventually help treat genetic diseases such as muscular dystrophy and other myopathies. [Press release from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Bioacoustic-Enabled Patterning of Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes into 3D Cardiac Tissue

Investigators report a new scalable method using Faraday waves to enable rapid aggregation of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes into predefined 3D constructs. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Transcription Factor-Induced Activation of Cardiac Gene Expression in Human c-kit⁺ Cardiac Progenitor Cells

Scientists assessed the hypothesis that differentiation of human c-kit⁺ cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) can be enhanced by priming them with cardiac transcription factors (TFs). They introduced five different TFs into CPCs, either alone or in combination, and then examined the expression of marker genes associated with the major cardiac cell types using quantitative RT-PCR. [PLoS One] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Influence of Nitric Oxide Generated through Microwave Plasma on L6 Skeletal Muscle Cell Myogenesis via Oxidative Signaling Pathways

The authors examined the effects of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) generated by a microwave plasma torch on rat myoblastic L6 cell proliferation and differentiation. They observed that the differentiation of L6 myogenic precursor cells into myotubes was significantly enhanced after NO treatment. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Human Skeletal Muscle Fibroblasts Stimulate In Vitro Myogenesis and In Vivo Muscle Regeneration

The influence of fibroblasts on satellite cells and muscle regeneration in humans is unknown. Researchers investigated this in vitro and during in vivo regeneration in humans. Following a muscle injury protocol in young healthy men, the number of fibroblasts, satellite cells, differentiating myogenic cells, and regenerating fibres was determined from biopsy cross-sections. [J Physiol] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Constitutive Smooth Muscle Tumor Necrosis Factor Regulates Microvascular Myogenic Responsiveness and Systemic Blood Pressure

Scientists showed that acutely deleting the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene in smooth muscle cells or pharmacologically scavenging TNF with etanercept reduces blood pressure and resistance artery myogenic responsiveness; the latter effect is conserved across five species, including humans. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Aspirin-Triggered Resolvin D1 Attenuates PDGF-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Migration via the Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate/Protein Kinase A (cAMP/PKA) Pathway

The authors investigated the role of the cAMP/PKA pathway in mediating the effects of the aspirin-triggered epimer 17R-resolvin D1 (RvD1) on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration. Treatment with aspirin-triggered epimer 17R-RvD1 induced a significant increase in cAMP levels and PKA activity in VSMCs. [PLoS One] Full Article

Vitamin K2 Inhibits Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Calcification by Restoring the Gas6/Axl/Akt Anti-Apoptotic Pathway

Investigators studied VK2-modified vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification and survival cell signaling mediated by growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) and its tyrosine kinase receptor Axl. Augmented recombinant mouse Gas6 protein expression significantly reduced VSMC calcification and apoptosis. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

Ex Vivo Analysis of the Contribution of FGF10⁺ Cells to Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Formation during Early Lung Development

Researchers monitored the response of FGF10⁺ progenitors and differentiated airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) to growth factor treatment in real time using lineage tracing in the background of an air-liquid interface culture system. They demonstrated, in real time, that FGF9 is an important regulator of amplification, migration and subsequent differentiation of ASMC progenitors during early lung development. [Dev Dyn] Abstract

Novel Protein Kinase Targets in Vascular Smooth Muscle Therapeutics

As more information is gathered regarding genetic, biochemical, molecular and cellular makeup of cardiovascular disease including vascular smooth muscle cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, advances will be made in precision medicine by identifying more precise therapeutic targets to enhance clinical decision making. [Curr Opin Pharmacol] Abstract

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

Pioneering Investigators in Experimental Heart Stem Cell and Cancer Therapies Recognized

Two prominent Cedars-Sinai investigators — one leading the development of biological treatments for heart disease, the other spearheading the design and analysis of clinical trials for cancer research — were inducted into the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars. [Cedars-Sinai] Press Release

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Designates UC Davis a Certified Duchenne Care Center

UC Davis Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Neuromuscular Research Center became the 15^th clinic named a Certified Duchenne Care Center by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [UC Davis (PR Newswire Association, LLC.)] Press Release

Congress and FDA Nominee Heap Love on ‘Adaptive Trials’

As President Donald Trump’s nominee to head FDA, Gottlieb sat before Republican lawmakers hungry for promises of “shorter time frames” for drug and device approvals, and expressed his zeal—repeatedly—for adaptive trial designs. If confirmed to be FDA’s head, as expected, Gottlieb suggested he’d promote wider use of the approach. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Japanese Scientists Call for Boycott of Military Research

The Science Council of Japan, an advisory body to the cabinet, representing some 850,000 Japanese scientists, released a statement calling on scientists to boycott military research and for universities and research organizations to evaluate the threats posed by such work. [Nature News] Editorial

Initiative Aims to Break Science’s Citation Paywall

The Initiative for Open Citations (I4OC) aims to allow anyone to access science papers’ reference lists and to build analytical services on top of that raw data. Started by the Wikimedia Foundation in San Francisco, California and five other partner organizations, I4OC announced at its official launch that 29 organizations, including some of the world’s largest scientific publishers, have now agreed to openly release citation data. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 2^nd Bioprocessing of Advanced Cellular Therapies Congress
June 8-9, 2017
London, United Kingdom

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

NEW International PhD Program – Biomedical Research (Institute of Genetics & Molecular & Cellular Biology/CERBM GIE)

Principal Investigator – Human Physiology and Experimental Medicine (University of Cambridge)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Research (Augusta University)

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

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

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