Muscle Cell News 3.18 May 28, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYRegulation of Muscle Stem Cells in Their Niche: Juggling External and Internal Cues Little information is available on how stem cells acquire their special properties. Researchers have described a signaling pathway that proposes a new view on how muscle stem cells are retained in their local microenvironment. [Press release from Institut Pasteur discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSThe authors found that angiopoietin-1 (Angpt1), a vascular maturation factor, is highly and specifically expressed in atrial myocardium during heart development. Loss of myocardial Angpt1 in mouse embryo led to severe impairment in atrial chamber morphogenesis. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Investigators found that Nogo-C was upregulated in fibrotic hearts after myocardial infarction and in Ang II- or TGF-β1-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts. Overexpression of Nogo-C in cardiac fibroblasts increased expression of pro-fibrogenic proteins, while knockdown of Nogo-C inhibited the fibrotic responses of cardiac fibroblasts to Ang II- or TGF-β1 stimulation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Scientists found that vascular cell adhesion protein 1 isoform X2 (VCAP1X2) mutant embryos displayed a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype, including reduced cardiac contractility, enlarged ventricular chamber and thinned ventricular compact layer. Cardiomyocyte and epicardial cell proliferation was decreased in the mutant heart ventricle, as was the expression of pAKT and pERK. [Sci Rep] Full Article Graphene Biointerfaces for Optical Stimulation of Cells Researchers report the first studies of optical stimulation of cardiomyocytes via graphene-based biointerfaces (G-biointerfaces) in substrate-based and dispersible configurations. The efficiency of stimulation via G-biointerfaces is independent of light wavelength but can be tuned by changing the light intensity. [Sci Adv] Full Article | Press Release SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSCell Surface Flip-Flop of Phosphatidylserine Is Critical for PIEZO1-Mediated Myotube Formation Researchers identified PIEZO1, a mechanosensitive Ca2+ channel, as a key regulator of myotube formation. They showed that cell surface phosphatidylserine inhibited PIEZO1 and that the inward translocation of phosphatidylserine, which is driven by the phospholipid flippase complex of ATP11A and CDC50A, is required for PIEZO1 activation. [Nat Commun] Full Article A DGKζ-FoxO-Ubiquitin Proteolytic Axis Controls Fiber Size during Skeletal Muscle Remodeling Investigators identified a diacylglycerol kinase ζ (DGKζ)-mediated pathway that regulated muscle mass during remodeling. During mechanical overload, DGKζ abundance was increased and required for effective hypertrophy. [Sci Signal] Abstract Scientists found that c-Myc does not only inhibit myoblast differentiation but also promotes myoblast proliferation and muscle fiber hypertrophy. c-Myc achieves its regulatory effects on myoblast proliferation and differentiation by targeting the cell cycle pathway. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSSmooth muscle cells (SMC) derived from atherosclerotic lesions show distinct proteomic profiles and altered Notch signaling in response to Jagged1 as a differentiation stimulus, compared with normal SMC. [Lab Invest] Abstract The authors investigated the regulatory role of RhoA/ROCK signaling on PDGF-BB-mediated smooth muscle phenotypic modulation and vascular remodeling and clarified the molecular mechanisms behind these effects. [Pharmacol Res] Abstract Researchers investigated the functional role and potential molecular mechanism of ABCA1 in platelet derived growth factor‐induced primary rat airway smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSBuilding Blood Vessels with Vascular Progenitor Cells The authors summarize the best-characterized sources of vascular progenitor cells and discuss advances in 3D printing and electrospinning using blended polymers for the creation of biomimetic vascular grafts. [Trends Mol Med] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSDuke-National University of Singapore Medical School (Duke-NUS) and Novo Nordisk A/S have joined hands to study and develop a novel stem cell-based therapy to treat two chronic conditions: heart failure and vision loss. [Duke-National University of Singapore] Press Release Biophytis announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation to its drug candidate Sarconeos in DMD. [Biophytis] Press Release AB Science SA announced its decision not to pursue the re-examination procedure that the company initially requested for the marketing authorization application of masitinib in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. [AB Science SA] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSItaly’s New Prime Minister Defended Discredited Stem Cell Therapy The electoral victory of two populist parties in March had Italian scientists worried that a new era of antiscientific policies might be around the corner—and appointment of Giuseppe Conte as the country’s new prime minister is making some even more nervous. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Scientist Who Received Millions from NIH Leaves Alabama Posts A professor who received about $5 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health left his posts at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and Birmingham VA Medical Center last year after an investigation found evidence of image manipulation in 20 of his papers, Retraction Watch has learned. [The Scientist] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW International Conference on Muscle Wasting: Molecular Mechanisms of Muscle Wasting during Aging and Disease Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESPostdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Stem Cell Research (University of Maryland School of Medicine) Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Biology (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation) Postdoctoral Researcher – Heart Muscle Cells (Universitatsklinikum Munster) Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (University of Oxford) Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Skeletal Muscle Disease Modeling and Regeneration (Duke University) Postdoctoral Fellow – hiPSC Based Cardiac Regeneration (Duke University) Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University) Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 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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