Muscle Cell News 3.04 February 5, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYMatters of the Heart: Scientists Reveal How Stem Cells Drive Cardiac Development & Growth Scientists from the University of Cambridge and the Université Libre de Bruxelles have used cutting-edge technology to show for the first time how embryonic stem cells diversify to generate the progenitor cells required for the development of the heart. [Press release from the University of Cambridge discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSResearchers demonstrated that lipocalin-2, a key feature of the innate immune response, facilitates the transport of siderophore–iron complexes into cells. This mechanism may have important physiological implications because elevated lipocalin-2 levels correlate positively with heart failure in humans, and mice lacking lipocalin-2 are protected from stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and heart failure. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Both non-human primate and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes confer similar cardioprotection in a rodent myocardial infarction model through relatively similar mechanisms via promotion of cell survival, angiogenesis, and inhibition of hypertrophy and fibrosis. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article Biologically Active Constituents of the Secretome of Human W8B2+ Cardiac Stem Cells Investigators previously isolated human W8B2+ cardiac stem cells (CSCs) and found they powerfully influence cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells to collectively promote cardiac repair and regeneration. Here, the complexity of the W8B2+ CSC secretomes were characterized and examined in more detail. [Sci Rep] Full Article SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSThe biological function of protein kinase CSNK2/CK2 remains vastly elusive and it is unknown whether CSNK2-dependent phosphorylation of translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane (TOMM) protein subunits have a similar role as that in yeast. To address this issue, researchers used a skeletal muscle-specific Csnk2b/Ck2β-conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model. Phenotypically, these skeletal muscle Csnk2b cKO mice showed reduced muscle strength and abnormal metabolic activity of mainly oxidative muscle fibers, which point towards mitochondrial dysfunction. [Autophagy] Abstract Mouse myoblast C2C12 cells were exposed to designated time and concentration of indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin of chronic kidney disease. The proliferation, differentiation, and the expression of atrogin 1 were examined. [J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle] Full Article The surface area of myoblasts cultured on the fucoidan scaffold was reduced at 24 hours and 72 hours post seeding, with a reduction in the formation of multinucleated syncytia. Myoblasts cultured on versican scaffolds were smaller compared to cells grown on the empty vector scaffolds at 24 hours, but not 72 hours post seeding, with multinucleated syncytia formation being unaffected. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract Contractile skeletal muscle cells were cultured so as to wrap around an electrode wire to enable their selective stimulation even when they were co-cultured with other electrically-excitable cells. The advantage of this new culture system was demonstrated in the study of chemotactic interaction of monocytes and skeletal muscle cells via myokines. [Sci Rep] Full Article Investigators hypothesized that the expression of miRNA can vary between primary cultures of skeletal muscle cells isolated from the semitendinosus muscles of different cattle breeds and subjected to myogenic differentiation. [BMC Genomics] Full Article SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSResearchers investigated the mechanism of action of haem by examining the effects of extracellular haem and carbon monoxide on whole-cell BK currents. Smooth muscle cells were isolated from the mesenteric artery of male Wistar rats. [Biophys J] Abstract Changes in Calcium Behavior in Smooth Muscle Cells Induced by Bidirectional Stretch Scientists tested the idea that stretching rat aortic smooth muscle A10 cells would reduce Ca2+ signals and play a role in normal muscle health. They found that high cell density with increased cell-cell contacts, such as that found in normal muscle tissue, lead to elevated levels of caveolae and a significant increase in calcium signals. [Biophys J] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSMyoblast Fusion Confusion: The Resolution Begins The authors review the latest findings regarding the biology of Myomaker and Minion–Myomerger, places these findings in the context of known pathways in mammalian myoblast fusion, and highlights areas that require further investigation. [Skelet Muscle] Full Article The Roles of Muscle Stem Cells in Muscle Injury, Atrophy, and Hypertrophy Researchers focus on the relevance of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) to muscle diseases and hypertrophy. They also address fundamental questions about MuSCs to clarify the onset or progression of these diseases, and which might lead to development of a MuSC-based therapy. [J Biochem] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSValerion to Present Initial Clinical Data with VAL-1221 in Pompe Disease Valerion Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company that specializes in the development of therapies for orphan genetic diseases, announced that a poster highlighting initial results from the first cohort of its ongoing Phase I/II clinical study with VAL-1221 in patients with late-onset Pompe disease will be presented. [Press release from Valerion Therapeutics discussing research to be presented at 14th Annual WORLDSymposium™ 2018, San Diego] Press Release TG Therapeutics, Inc. announced results from the Phase II multicenter trial of ublituximab, the Company’s novel glycoengineered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis. [Press release from TG Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the 3rd Annual Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2018, San Diego] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSNeuroVive Reports Breakthrough in Mitochondrial Myopathy Project NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB announced a breakthrough in the company’s project NVP025 for developing treatment of mitochondrial myopathy. In an experimental study carried out in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Instutet in Stockholm, Sweden, the project’s model substance has shown favourable effects which may counter disease progression in mitochondrial myopathy. [NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB] Press Release Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the U.S. FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Riluzole Oral Soluble Film (OSF) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating disease affecting as many as 30,000 Americans. Riluzole OSF is currently in late-stage clinical development. [Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSPubmed Commons Closes Its Doors to Comments The US National Institutes of Health announced that it will discontinue PubMed Commons, a tool that allows scientists to comment on articles indexed in the agency’s popular PubMed database of biomedical literature. The agency said low levels of engagement and the growth of alternate venues for public discussion of published papers contributed to its decision to close PubMed Commons after five years. [Nature News] Editorial Nature Journals Tighten Rules on Non-Financial Conflicts What makes a conflict of interest in science? Definitions differ, but broadly agree on one thing: an influence that can cloud a researcher’s objectivity. For some people, that influence can be money. But there are other influences that can interfere, such as institutional loyalty, personal beliefs and ambition. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Annual Meeting of the Israel Stem Cell Society 2018 Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Principal Investigator – Cardiology (Boston Children’s Hospital) Senior Scientist – In Vivo Biology (AstraZeneca) Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cardiac Morphogenesis (The University of Queensland) Postdoctoral Researcher – Cell-Based Cardiac Regeneration (Karolinska Institutet) Postdoctoral Fellow – Metabolic Regulation (Harvard University) Research Fellow – Rhabdomyosarcoma (Massachusetts General Hospital) Research Assistant – Cardiovascular Stem Cells (University of Oxford) Faculty Position – Translational Research in Cardiac Biology (Temple University) Postdoctoral Fellowship – Mass Spectrometry of Cardiomyocytes (Medical College of Wisconsin) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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