Muscle Cell News Volume 2.14 | Apr 24 2017

TOP STORY

Control of Muscle Formation by the Fusogenic Micropeptide Myomixer

From a genome-wide clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats loss-of-function screen for genes required for myoblast fusion and myogenesis, researchers discovered an 84 amino acid muscle-specific peptide that researchers called Myomixer. Myomixer expression coincided with myoblast differentiation and was essential for fusion and skeletal muscle formation during embryogenesis. [Science] Abstract

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CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Inhibition of the Cardiac Myocyte Mineralocorticoid Receptor Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Scientists evaluated the role of the cardiac myocyte mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) during doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. They showed that 1) eplerenone prevents doxorubicin-induced left ventricular dysfunction in mice and 2) this beneficial effect is related to inhibition of MR in cardiac myocytes. [Cardiovasc Res] Abstract

Isolation of Human Explant Derived Cardiac Stem Cells from Cryopreserved Heart Tissue

The authors report the effect of cryopreservation of routine myocardial biopsies on explant derived cardiac stem cell (EDC) culture outcomes. They demonstrated that immediate cryopreservation or delayed cryopreservation after suspension within cardioplegia for 12 hours did not alter EDC yields, proliferative capacity, antigenic phenotype or paracrine signature. [PLoS One] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Altered miRNA-29 Expression in Type 2 Diabetes Influences Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Skeletal Muscle

In primary human skeletal muscle cells, inhibition and overexpression strategies demonstrated that miRNA (miR)-29a and miR-29c regulate glucose uptake and insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism. Investigators identified that miR-29 overexpression attenuates insulin signaling and expression of IRS1 and PI3K. [Diabetes] Abstract

Power Grid Protection of the Muscle Mitochondrial Reticulum

Scientists demonstrated the mechanisms for mitochondrial network protection in heart and skeletal muscle. They found that the cardiac mitochondrial reticulum is segmented into subnetworks comprising many mitochondria linked through abundant contact sites at highly specific intermitochondrial junctions. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

MiR-34b Modulates Skeletal Muscle Cell Proliferation and Differentiation

The authors proved that a moderate reduction of nucleolin in cells enhanced the myotube formation. However, nucleolin was required for myogenesis, as cells with low levels of nucleolin reduced cell proliferation rate and were unable to differentiate. Their data demonstrated that nucleolin regulates myogenesis in a protein-abundance-dependent manner. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Role of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) in Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction

Since PTEN was suggested to regulate transient receptor potential canonical 6 in endothelial cells, investigators aimed to define its role in the hypoxic response of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and as a putative mediator of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Their data indicated a novel interplay between rho-associated protein kinase and cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration signaling in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction via PTEN. [Cardiovasc Res] Abstract

MicroRNA-26a Targets MAPK6 to Inhibit Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Vein Graft Neointimal Hyperplasia

Researchers determined the role of microRNA (miR)-26a in the development of neointimal hyperplasia of autogenous vein grafts. Using autologous jugular vein grafts in the rat carotid artery as a model, they found that miR-26a was significantly downregulated in grafted veins as well as proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The ET-1-Mediated Carbonylation and Degradation of ANXA1 Induce Inflammatory Phenotype and Proliferation of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells in HPS

Researchers reported that endothelin-1 (ET-1) was up-regulated and annexin A1 (ANXA1) was down-regulated in hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) rats, and ET-1 decreased the ANXA1 expression in a dose-dependent manner in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). They showed that ANXA1 could decrease nuclear p-ERK1/2 accumulation and decrease the cyclin D1 expression, thus resulting in the subsequent inhibition of PASMCs proliferation. [PLoS One] Full Article

Hyperoside Inhibits the Effects Induced by Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via oxLDL-LOX-1-ERK Pathway

Scientists treated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in the presence or absence of hyperoside. Their results demonstrated that oxLDL promoted lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) expression, extracellular signal-regulated kinases activation, and proliferation in VSMCs. Hyperoside significantly inhibited the oxLDL-stimulated effects after long time exposure. [Mol Cell Biochem] Full Article

Muscle Cell Communication in Development and Repair

Investigators review methods of muscle cell communication focusing on proteins that mediate membrane fusion, exosomes, and autocrine factors. [Curr Opin Pharmacol] Abstract

Coordinated Actions of MicroRNAs with Other Epigenetic Factors Regulate Skeletal Muscle Development and Adaptation

The authors review multiple interactions between microRNAs and epigenetic factors in skeletal muscle development and in response to stimuli or disease. [Int J Mol Sci] Abstract

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

Final Phase III Study Data Show SPINRAZA^® (Nusinersen) Significantly Improved Motor Function in Children with Later-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Biogen will present Phase III end of study SPINRAZA^® data from CHERISH, which demonstrated a highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in motor function in children with later-onset spinal muscular atrophy compared to untreated children. [Press release from Biogen discussing research to be presented at the 2017 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting, Boston] Press Release

Cellular Dynamics International Signs Distribution Deal with STEMCELL Technologies

Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) announced it has signed a distribution agreement with STEMCELL Technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, STEMCELL Technologies will distribute CDI’s iCell^® catalog of products in North America, Europe, and Singapore, with other countries under consideration. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release

aTyr Pharma Announces Promising Top-Line Results from Resolaris™ Phase Ib/II Clinical Trial in Patients with Early Onset Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

aTyr Pharma, Inc. announced promising clinical results from its Phase Ib/II 003 trial assessing the safety and potential activity of Resolaris™ in patients with early onset facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. [aTyr Pharma Inc.] Press Release

Biogen’s SPINRAZA^® (Nusinersen) Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for the Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Biogen announced the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency adopted a positive opinion recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for SPINRAZA^® to treat patients with spinal muscular atrophy. [Biogen] Press Release

What Happened at March for Science Events around the World

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington D.C., and at least 600 other cities around the world, in what may have been one of the largest-ever demonstrations in support of scientific research and evidence-based policymaking. [Nature News] Editorial

French Scientists Focus on the Big Political Picture

Researchers in France overwhelmingly oppose the far right and can stamp out its rise by turning out to register their disapproval. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW GRKs and Arrestins: From Structure to Disease
June 11-16, 2017
Saxtons River, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position(s) – Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Disease Modeling and Regeneration (Duke University)

NEW PhD Student – Molecular Cardiology (University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein)

Research Fellow – Cardiovascular Science (Columbia University)

PhD Studentship – Cardiac Regeneration (Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine)

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

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

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