Muscle Cell News 2.26 July 31, 2017 | |
| |
TOP STORYScientists investigated the potential role of obestatin, an autocrine peptide factor regulating skeletal muscle growth and repair, to improve the outcome of myoblast-based therapy by xenotransplanting primary human myoblasts into immunodeficient mice. [Mol Ther] Abstract | |
| |
PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSResearchers studied the electrophysiological effects of the I230T mutation in the sodium channel gene SCN5A in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes generated from a homozygous and a heterozygous individual from a family with recessive cardiac conduction disease. [J Am Heart Assoc] Full Article Although many genes have been shown to regulate cell edema in cardiomyocytes, the mechanisms involved in this event, as well as the biomechanical properties of cell swelling remain unknown. Scientists examined whether histone deacetylase 1 inhibition protects against hypoxia-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte swelling. [Circ J] Full Article p53 and Mdm2 are crucial mediators of cell cycle arrest in proliferative cell types, however little is known about their function in regulating homeostasis and proliferation in terminally differentiated cell types, like cardiomyocytes. Investigators explored this by generating a cardiac-specific conditional deletion of p53 and Mdm2 in adult mice. [Cell Cycle] Abstract It has been shown that apelin-13 promotes the hypertrophy of H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes through the PI3K-autophagy pathway. The authors explored what roles endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy played in apelin-13-induced hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes in vitro. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSResearchers explored the role of FAK activation using C2C12 myoblasts that were grown on flexible culture plates and exposed to uniaxial cyclic tensile strain during the early differentiation phase. After 24 hours, the cells oriented perpendicularly to the direction of strain and exhibited an enhanced differentiation profile. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract Although impairment of muscle regeneration is an important determinant of skeletal muscle wasting, it is unclear whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) affects this process and, if so, by what mechanism. Investigators used the C2C12 myoblast cell line to investigate the effects of LPS on myogenesis. [PLoS One] Full Article Osteopontin Is Linked with AKT, FoxO1, and Myostatin in Skeletal Muscle Cells Osteopontin (OPN) polymorphisms are associated with muscle size and modify disease progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The authors hypothesized that OPN might share a molecular network with myostatin. Studies were conducted in the golden retriever and mdx mouse models of DMD. Follow-up in vitro studies were employed in myogenic cells and the mdx mouse treated with recombinant mouse or human OPN protein. [Muscle Nerve] Abstract The Nuclear Protein-Coding Gene ANKRD23 Negatively Regulates Myoblast Differentiation Scientists identified a nuclear protein-coding gene ANKRD23 which was highly expressed in muscle. They discovered a long non-coding RNA-AK004293 which was overlapped with the 3′UTR of ANKRD23 gene. They then detected the effect of AK004293 on the expression of ANKRD23 and myoblast differentiation marker genes in C2C12 myoblasts. [Gene] Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSPulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells were derived from pulmonary arteries of Sprague–Dawley rats; cell viability, the presence of metabolites, and metabolic enzyme activities assay were determined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assays, kit assays and western blot analysis, respectively. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article Among S-nitrosothiols showing reversible binding between NO and -SH group, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) represents potential therapeutics to treat cardiovascular diseases associated with reduced nitric oxide availability. Higher levels of GSNO-dependent S-nitrosation of proteins from the cytoskeleton and contractile machinery were identified under oxidative stress conditions. [Nitric Oxide] Abstract | |
| |
REVIEWSResearchers review the electrophysiological characteristics of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-cardiomyocytes, their use for investigating inherited arrhythmia syndromes, and their applicability for identification and assessment of anti-arrhythmic treatment strategies. [Cardiovasc Drugs Ther] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
| |
INDUSTRY NEWSCapricor Announces Results of FDA Meeting on Intravenous CAP-1002 for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has received official minutes of the meeting held recently between the U.S. FDA and Capricor to discuss the development of intravenous CAP-1002 for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release AMO Pharma Limited announced that the U.S. FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation for AMO-02, the company’s investigational therapy in development for the treatment of congenital myotonic dystrophy. [AMO Pharma Limited (PR Newswire)] Press Release | |
| |
POLICY NEWSDing, Ding, Ding! CRISPR Patent Fight Enters Next Round The University of California has fired another legal salvo in the prolonged patent battle over CRISPR, the revolutionary gene-editing technology that has spawned a billion dollar industry. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Senate Spending Panel Would Squeeze Science Agencies but Exceed Trump Request A Senate spending panel voted today to reduce funding in 2018 below current levels for several science agencies under its jurisdiction. [ScienceInsider] Editorial At Harvard, Extraordinary Court Battle between Ph.D. Student and Prominent Researcher Grinds On The conflict between Gustavo German, a Harvard doctoral student in biomedicine, and Lee Rubin, a prominent stem cell researcher, has continued to evolve. Amid continued legal jousting, the situation has remained difficult for all of the parties involved in this tumultuous episode. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Budding UK Innovation Agency Gains Cash — and Clout UK scientists fearful for their research funds ahead of Brexit were cheered when the government announced it would plough an extra £4.7 billion (US$6.1 billion) into research and development by 2020–21. But the biggest winner from the largely industry-focused cash may be a government innovation agency that is rapidly gaining clout. [Nature News] Editorial
| |
EVENTSNEW European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2018 Congress Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
| |
JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (University of Oxford) NEW PhD in Biosciences – Muscle Cell Differentiation Programs (Cardiff University) Assistant Professor – Skeletal Muscle Physiology (University of California, Davis) Postdoctoral Position – Translational Cardiac Research (University of Utah) Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuromuscular Diseases and Rare Genetic Diseases (University of Alberta) Postdoctoral Positions – Center for Research on Inflammatory Diseases (The University of Sao Paulo) Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Physiology (University of Nevada, Reno) Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes and Heart Disease (University Health Network) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
| |
Have we missed an important article or publication in Muscle Cell News? Click here to submit! Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here. | |
|