Muscle Cell News Volume 3.05 | Feb 19 2018

TOP STORY

Acellular Therapeutic Approach for Heart Failure: In Vitro Production of Extracellular Vesicles from Human Cardiovascular Progenitors

Scientists investigated whether extracellular vesicles released by more readily available cell sources are therapeutic, whether their effectiveness is influenced by the differentiation state of the secreting cell, and through which mechanisms they act. [Eur Heart J] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Loss of MicroRNA-128 Promotes Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Heart Regeneration

Investigators showed that microRNA-128 is upregulated in cardiomyocytes during the postnatal switch from proliferation to terminal differentiation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Initiating Events in Direct Cardiomyocyte Reprogramming

Using a quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach, researchers identified the temporal global changes in protein abundance that occur during initial phases of cardiomyocyte-like cells reprogramming. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Modeling Human Cardiac Hypertrophy in Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Scientists determined whether human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes subjected to mechanical stretch can be used as an adequate in vitro model for studying molecular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Short Telomeres Induce p53 and Autophagy and Modulate Age-Associated Changes in Cardiac Progenitor Cell Fate

Researchers isolated cardiac progenitor cells and compared mouse strains with different telomere lengths for phenotypic characteristics of aging. [Stem Cells] Abstract

NR4A2 Protects Cardiomyocytes against Myocardial Infarction Injury by Promoting Autophagy

To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of NR4A2-regulated apoptosis, investigators used H9c2 cardiomyocytes deprived of serum and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes exposed to hypoxia to mimic ischemic conditions in vivo. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

The Satellite Cell Niche Regulates the Balance between Myoblast Differentiation and Self-Renewal via p53

Investigators studied the effect of the satellite cell niche on satellite cell-derived myoblast transcriptional regulation and identified the tumor suppressor p53 as a key player in the regulation of myoblast quiescence. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Grpahical Abstract

Inhibition of the JNK/MAPK Signaling Pathway by Myogenesis-Associated miRNAs Is Required for Skeletal Muscle Development

The authors report that the JNK/MAPK pathway was significantly downregulated in the late stages of myogenesis, and in contrast to P38/MAPK pathway, it negatively regulated skeletal muscle differentiation. They revealed a novel double-negative feedback regulatory pattern of cell-specific miRNAs by targeting phosphorylation kinase signaling cascade responsible for skeletal muscle development. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Leucyl-tRNA Synthetase Is Required for the Myogenic Differentiation of C2C12 Myoblasts, but Not for Hypertrophy or Metabolic Alteration of Myotubes

Researchers determined the potential roles of leucyl-tRNA synthetase for the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, skeletal muscle cell differentiation, hypertrophy, and metabolism using small interfering-RNA knockdown. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

EZH2 Inhibits Autophagic Cell Death of Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Affect Aortic Dissection

Scientists report a novel function of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in regulating autophagic cell death of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that affect aortic dissection. Inhibition of EZH2 activity by UNC1999 or knockdown EZH2 resulted in VSMC loss, while overexpression of EZH2 facilitated VSMC growth, and these effects of EZH2 on VSMCs were independent of proliferation and apoptosis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

TGFβ1 Reinforces Arterial Aging in the Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell through a Long-Range Regulation of the Cytoskeletal Stiffness

The authors report exquisitely distinct material properties of primary vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells isolated from the thoracic aorta of adult vs. aged F344XBN rats. The pro-fibrotic transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) emerged as a specific modifier of age-associated VSM stiffening in vitro. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Hypoxia Enhances Differentiation of Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells toward the Smooth Muscle Phenotype

Researchers investigated the phenotype and contractility of adipose-derived stem cells differentiated toward the smooth myogenic lineage under hypoxic conditions. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Engineering Stem and Stromal Cell Therapies for Musculoskeletal Tissue Repair

The authors present recent clinical advances where stem cells and stromal cells have been used to stimulate musculoskeletal tissue repair, including delivery strategies to improve cell viability and retention. Emerging bioengineering strategies are highlighted, particularly toward the development of biomaterials for capturing aspects of the native tissue environment, altering the healing niche, and recruiting endogenous cells. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract

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

Capricor to Give Update on HOPE-2 Clinical Trial for CAP-1002 at International Conference on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Capricor Therapeutics will provide an update on HOPE-2, its trial for CAP-1002, the company’s lead investigational therapy for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Press release from Capricor Therapeutics discussing research presented at at the 16^th International Conference on Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy, Rome] Press Release

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Reports Edasalonexent Preserved Muscle Function and Substantially Slowed Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Disease Progression through More than One Year of Treatment

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Inc. reported new positive efficacy and safety results showing preservation of muscle function and sustained disease-modifying effects in boys with Duchene muscular dystrophy in the MoveDMD trial open-label extension following 48 and 60 weeks of treatment with edasalonexent. [Press release from Catabasis Pharmaceuticals discussing research presented at at the 16^th International Conference on Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy, Rome] Press Release

Three-Way Collaboration with the U.S. Army, Harvard University and Frequency Therapeutics to Focus on Progenitor Cell Regeneration in Muscle

Frequency Therapeutics announced a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Harvard University and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. The program is focused on small-molecule therapeutics to address several disease indications and conditions involving muscle. [Frequency Therapeutics] Press Release

Capricor Receives FDA Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) Designation for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Therapy

Capricor Therapeutics announced that the U.S. FDA has granted CAP-1002, its lead investigational cell therapy for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation. [Capricor Therapeutics] Press Release

Biden Blasts Science Denialists, Calls to Dramatically Speed Up Fight against Cancer

Fresh off a plane from the NATO meeting in Munich, where he’d conferred with world leaders on global defense, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden issued a forceful call here last night to build on the “Cancer Moonshot” he started while in the White House and transform the way the world fights cancer. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Trump’s Science Advisor, Age 31, Has a Political Science Degree

A job that’s been held by some of the nation’s top scientists is now occupied by a 31-year-old politics major from Princeton University. And it’s unlikely to change soon, observers say, leaving President Trump without a science advisor as the administration wrestles with a severe outbreak of the flu, lead-poisoned drinking water and record-breaking disasters that many scientists say are sharpened by rising temperatures. [Scientific American] Editorial

Few UK Universities Have Adopted Rules against Impact-Factor Abuse

Institutions have made little progress against the misuse of research metrics when hiring and promoting academics. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Cardiac Regulatory Mechanisms
June 3-8, 2018
New London, New Hampshire, United States

NEW The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Conference 2018
October 23-24, 2018
New York, New York, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Bioengineering (University of Pittsburgh)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow & Assistant Research Scientist Positions – Cardiovascular Physiology (University of Arizona College of Medicine)

Principal Investigator – Cardiology (Boston Children’s Hospital)

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)

Faculty Position – Translational Research in Cardiac Biology (Temple University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Mass Spectrometry of Cardiomyocytes (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cardiac Tissue Homeostasis and Regeneration Mechanisms (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares)

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