Muscle Cell News Volume 2.38 | Nov 20 2017

TOP STORY

Targeting Interleukin-1β Protects from Aortic Aneurysms Induced by Disrupted Transforming Growth Factor β Signaling

Scientists report on aneurysms developing in adult mice after smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific inactivation of Smad4, an intracellular transducer of transforming growth factor β. The results revealed that Smad4 inhibition activated interleukin-1β in SMCs. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Transient Cardiomyocyte Fusion Regulates Cardiac Development in Zebrafish

Researchers generated transgenic reporter lines in zebrafish to label and specifically ablate fused cells. In addition to skeletal muscle cells, the reporters labelled cardiomyocytes starting at an early developmental stage. [Nat Commun] Full Article

A Carvedilol-Responsive MicroRNA, miR-125b-5p Protects the Heart From Acute Myocardial Infarction by Repressing Pro-Apoptotic bak1 and klf13 in Cardiomyocytes

Using cultured cardiomyocyte (CM) and in vivo approaches, investigators showed that miR-125b-5p is an ischemic stress-responsive protector against CM apoptosis. CMs lacking miR-125b-5p exhibit increased susceptibility to stress-induced apoptosis, while CMs overexpressing miR-125b-5p have increased phospho-AKT pro-survival signaling. [J Mol Cell Cardiol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

SDF-1α (Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1α) Induces Cardiac Fibroblasts, Renal Microvascular Smooth Muscle Cells, and Glomerular Mesangial Cells to Proliferate, Cause Hypertrophy, and Produce Collagen

Scientists investigated whether SDF‐1α activates cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), preglomerular vascular smooth muscle cells (PGVSMCs), and glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) to proliferate, hypertrophy, or produce collagen. The SDF‐1α/C‐X‐C motif chemokine receptor 4 axis drove proliferation and hypertrophy of and collagen production by CFs, PGVSMCs, and GMCs, particularly in cells from genetically hypertensive animals and when dipeptidyl peptidase 4 is inhibited. [J Am Heart Assoc] Full Article

Early Postnatal Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Requires High Oxidative Energy Metabolism

The authors showed that energy-related gene expression does not correlate with functional oxidative measurements in the developing heart. Gene expression analysis suggested a gradual overall upregulation of oxidative-related genes and pathways, whereas functional assessment in both cardiac tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes indicated that oxidative metabolism decreases between the first and seventh days after birth. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Transcriptional Profiling of Quiescent Muscle Stem Cells In Vivo

Researchers analyzed the transcriptome of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) in vivo utilizing MuSC-specific labeling of RNA. Notably, labeling transcripts during the isolation procedure revealed very active transcription of specific subsets of genes. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

In Situ Fixation Redefines Quiescence and Early Activation of Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells

Focusing on adult skeletal muscle stem cells, scientists have developed a protocol that circumvents the impact of isolation procedures and captures cells in their native quiescent state. They showed that current isolation protocols induce major transcriptional changes accompanied by specific histone modifications while having negligible effects on DNA methylation. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Notch1 and Notch2 Coordinately Regulate Stem Cell Function in the Quiescent and Activated States of Muscle Satellite Cells

The authors investigated the role of Notch1 and Notch2 in myogenic progression in adult skeletal muscle using tamoxifen-inducible satellite cell-specific conditional knockout mice for Notch1, Notch2, and Notch1/Notch2. [Stem Cells] Abstract

The Primary Cilium Is Necessary for the Differentiation and the Maintenance of Human Adipose Progenitors into Myofibroblasts

Investigators studied differentiation of adipose progenitors (APs) into myofibroblasts in two human models: APs of the adipose tissue and APs resident in the skeletal muscles. They showed that, in vivo, myofibroblasts within muscles of patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy were ciliated. In vitro, myofibroblasts derived from APs maintained a functional primary cilium. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Regulation of Angiotensin II Actions by Enhancers and Super-Enhancers in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Scientists showed that angiotensin II (AngII) alters vascular enhancer and super-enhancer repertoires in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro, ex vivo, and in AngII-infused mice aortas in vivo. [Nat Commun] Full Article

TWEAK/Fn14 Interaction Induces Proliferation and Migration in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells via Activating the NF-κB Pathway

The authors investigated potential roles and mechanisms of the tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)/fibroblast growth factor-inducible molecule 14 (Fn14) axis on cell proliferation and migration in human airway smooth muscle cell (HASMCs). Compared to HASMCs from non-asthmatic patients, those from asthmatic patients showed elevated expression levels of both Fn14 and TWEAK. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Function of the Myogenic Regulatory Factors Myf5, MyoD, Myogenin and Mrf4 in Skeletal Muscle, Satellite Cells and Regenerative Myogenesis

The authors review the role of the myogenic regulatory factors in developing and mature skeletal muscle, satellite cell specification and muscle regeneration. [Semin Cell Dev Biol] Abstract

The Current Status and Future of Cardiac Stem/Progenitor Cell Therapy for Congenital Heart Defects from Diabetic Pregnancy

There is ongoing debate regarding whether c-kit⁺ cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) can give rise to sufficient cardiomyocytes. A new hypothesis to address the beneficial effect of c-kit⁺ CPCs is that these cells stimulate endogenous cardiac cells through a paracrine function in producing a robust secretome and exosomes. [Pediatr Res] Abstract

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

Significant Improvements Reported in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients Treated with Capricor’s Investigational Cell Therapy

Boys and young men in advanced stages of Duchenne muscular dystrophy experienced significant and sustained improvements in cardiac structure and function, as well as skeletal muscle function, following treatment with CAP-1002, the lead investigational therapy under development at Capricor Therapeutics [Press release from Capricor Therapeutics, Inc discussing research presented at a Late-Breaking Science session of the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2017, Anaheim] Press Release

Rhode Island Hospital Awarded $5.8-Million NIH Grant for Skeletal Health

The Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) for Skeletal Health and Repair at Rhode Island Hospital recently secured a $5.8-million, 5-year Phase III COBRE grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to support ongoing research in the area of cartilage and joint diseases. [Lifespan] Press Release

MDA Awards $3.5 Million in New Research Grants

The Muscular Dystrophy Association announced 13 new research and development grants totaling $3.5 million to accelerate the development of treatments for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related life-threatening diseases. [Muscular Dystrophy Association] Press Release

Horizon 2020: EUR 1.8 million for Mainz Researchers

The University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz will be receiving a total of EUR 1.8 million in the new round of the EU’s Horizon 2020 framework program for research and innovation. Researchers in the nTRACK project will be looking at how stem cell therapy can be used for the regeneration of muscle tissue. [Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz] Press Release

FDA Announces Comprehensive Regenerative Medicine Policy Framework

The FDA announced a comprehensive policy framework for the development and oversight of regenerative medicine products, including novel cellular therapies. The framework – outlined in a suite of four guidance documents – builds upon the FDA’s existing risk-based regulatory approach to more clearly describe what products are regulated as drugs, devices, and/or biological products. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

UK Government Announces Research-Spending Hike ahead of Budget

The government said that it would boost public spending on research and development to £12.5 billion in 2021–22, an increase of £500 million on what is already planned for the year before. The rise builds on a surprise announcement made last year, when politicians promised yearly increases in research funding until 2020. [Nature News] Editorial

African Scientists Get Their Own Open-Access Publishing Platform

Africa’s academy of science has announced that it will launch an open-access publishing platform — the first of its kind aimed exclusively at scientists on the continent. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Angiotensin
February 18-23, 2018
Ventura, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Metabolism or Tissue Fibrosis (University of California, San Francisco)

NEW Professor – Molecular Muscle Physiology (Karolinska Institutet)

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

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

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

Assistant Professor – Musculoskeletal Biology (University of Alabama)

Postdoctoral Associate – Skeletal Muscle Differentiation (University of Minnesota)

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