Muscle Cell News Volume 2.37 | Nov 6 2017

TOP STORY

Odd Skipped-Related 1 Identifies a Population of Embryonic Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors Regulating Myogenesis During Limb Development

Scientists showed that mouse embryonic limb muscle connective tissue cells expressing the transcription factor Osr1, differentiate into fibrogenic and adipogenic cells in vivo and in vitro defining an embryonic fibro-adipogenic progenitor-like population. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Abnormal Contractility in Human Heart Myofibrils from Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy Due to Mutations in TTN and Contractile Protein Genes

Scientists isolated cardiac myofibrils from three titin (TTNtv) mutants, and three with contractile protein mutations and measured their contractility and passive stiffness in comparison with donor heart muscle as a control. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Discovery of Novel Small Molecule Inducers of Heme Oxygenase-1 that Protect Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes from Oxidative Stress

Examination of gene expression in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) cardiomyocytes revealed that the hit compound, designated cardioprotectant 312, induced robust upregulation of heme oxygenase-1, a marker of the antioxidant response network that has been strongly correlated with protection of cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress. [J Pharmacol Exp Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Laminin, Laminin-Entactin and Extracellular Matrix Are Equally Appropriate Adhesive Substrates for Isolated Adult Rat Cardiomyocyte Culture and Experimentation

Adhesion and viability of adult rat cardiomyocytes (ARCMs) were evaluated on laminin, laminin-entactin, and extracellular matrix at concentrations between 25–200 ug/ml, in three different normoxic experimental buffers and under simulated ischemia-reperfusion conditions. Differences in normoxic buffer composition had no effect on the adherence of ARCMs, but had a significant effect on mitochondrial function and thus cell viability. [Cell Adh Migr] Abstract

Deletion of Cdc42 in Embryonic Cardiomyocytes Results in Right Ventricle Hypoplasia

Researchers generated a Cdc42 cardiomyocyte knockout mouse line by crossing Cdc42/flox mice with myosin light chain 2a-Cre mice. They found that the deletion of Cdc42 in embryonic cardiomyocytes resulted in an underdeveloped right ventricle. [Clin Transl Med] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

MicroRNAs Promote Skeletal Muscle Differentiation of Mesodermal iPSC-Derived Progenitors

Scientists documented that human mesodermal iPSC-derived progenitors (MiPs) can successfully engraft into the skeletal muscle and hearts of dystrophic mice. Utilizing non-invasive live imaging and selectively induced apoptosis, they report evidence of striated muscle regeneration in vivo in mice by human MiPs. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Uncoupling Exercise Bioenergetics from Systemic Metabolic Homeostasis by Conditional Inactivation of Baf60 in Skeletal Muscle

Investigators conditionally inactivated Baf60a, Baf60c or both in mature skeletal myocytes to delineate their contribution to muscle bioenergetics and metabolic physiology. They revealed functional redundancy between Baf60a and Baf60c in maintaining oxidative and glycolytic metabolism in skeletal myofibers and exercise endurance. [Diabetes] Abstract

Treatment with the Anti-IL-6 Receptor Antibody Attenuates Muscular Dystrophy via Promoting Skeletal Muscle Regeneration in Dystrophin-/Utrophin-Deficient Mice

The authors analyzed the effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockade on the muscle pathology of double-knockout (dKO) mice. Treatment of dKO mice with the MR16-1 antibody successfully inhibited the IL-6 pathway in the skeletal muscle and resulted in a significant reduction in the expression levels of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in the skeletal muscle. [Skelet Muscle] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

The Free Fatty Acid Receptor 1 Promotes Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation through MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways

Researchers examined whether stimulation of free fatty acid receptor 1 induces airway smooth muscle cell proliferation through classical MEK/ERK and/or PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Tissue-Engineered Smooth Muscle Cell and Endothelial Progenitor Cell Bi-Level Cell Sheets Prevent Progression of Cardiac Dysfunction, Microvascular Dysfunction, and Interstitial Fibrosis in a Rodent Model of Type 1 Diabetes-Induced Cardiomyopathy

Smooth muscle cell-endothelial progenitor cell cell sheet therapy preserved cardiac function and halted adverse ventricular remodeling, as demonstrated by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at eight weeks after diabetes mellitus-induced cardiomyopathy induction. [Cardiovasc Diabetol] Full Article

MicroRNAs in Skeletal Muscle Development

The authors review the role of non-coding RNAs, in particular microRNAs, in embryonic muscle development and differentiation, and in satellite cells of adult muscle, which are essential for muscle growth and regeneration. [Semin Cell Dev Biol] Abstract

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

Sarepta Therapeutics Signs Exclusive Global Collaboration with Duke University for Gene Editing CRISPR/Cas9 Technology to Develop New Treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has signed a research collaboration agreement with Duke University, granting the Company an option to an exclusive license to intellectual property and technology related to CRISPR/Cas9 technology developed in the laboratory of Charles A. Gersbach, Ph.D. [Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Wave Life Sciences Initiates Clinical Trial for Lead Program in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Wave Life Sciences Ltd. announced the initiation of a global Phase I clinical trial for WVE-210201 in DMD patients amenable to exon 51 skipping. [WAVE Life Sciences] Press Release

Biohaven Doses First Subject in Pivotal Bioequivalence Study with Sublingual BHV-0223

Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced that the first subject was dosed in its bioequivalence study designed to demonstrate the pharmacokinetic equivalence of sublingual BHV-0223 compared to Rilutek. [Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Sarepta Therapeutics and Nationwide Children’s Hospital Announce FDA Clearance of IND for Micro-Dystrophin Gene Therapy Program for the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. announced that Nationwide Children’s Hospital has received clearance from the FDA for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the micro-dystrophin gene therapy program. The Phase I/IIa clinical trial is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of AAVrh74.MHCK7.micro-Dystrophin in individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

US Government Approves ‘Killer’ Mosquitoes to Fight Disease

The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of a common bacterium to kill wild mosquitoes that transmit viruses such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika. The agency told biotechnology start-up MosquitoMate that it could release the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis into the environment as a tool against the Asian tiger mosquito. [Nature News] Editorial

Lamar Smith, the Departing Head of the House Science Panel, Will Leave a Controversial and Complicated Legacy

When Representative Lamar Smith announced that he would not run for re-election in 2018, after 32 years in Congress, many scientists reacted with glee. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Leading Western Publisher Bows to Chinese Censorship

Springer Nature, whose publications include Nature and Scientific American, acknowledged that at the government’s request, it had removed articles from its mainland site that touch on topics the ruling Communist Party considers sensitive, including Taiwan, Tibet, human rights and elite politics. [The New York Times] Editorial

NEW Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB)/ Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) 2018 Scientific Sessions
May 9-12, 2018
San Francisco, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Cell-Based Cardiac Regeneration (Karolinska Institutet)

NEW Faculty Positions – Cardiovascular Biology Research Program (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Skeletal Muscle Biology (Weill Cornell Medical College)

Multiple Positions – Cardiovascular Research (Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Biomicrofluidics and Organ-on-a-Chip Research (University of Toronto)

Postdoctoral Position – Myotonic Dystrophy (Vitalité Health Network)

Postdoctoral Trainee – Cardiovascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctorate Research Associate – Cell-Mediated Cardiac Tissue Regeneration (Nova Southeastern University Cell Therapy Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Smooth Muscle Biology (Boston Children’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School)

Research Assistant – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (University of Oxford)

Assistant Professor – Musculoskeletal Biology (University of Alabama)

Postdoctoral Associate – Skeletal Muscle Differentiation (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Research Positions – Molecular and Integrative Biology of Heart and Muscle (University of Minnesota Medical School)

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