Muscle Cell News Volume 3.26 | Jul 30 2018

TOP STORY

Denervation-Activated STAT3-IL-6 Signaling in Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors Promotes Myofibres Atrophy and Fibrosis

Investigators found that denervation causes progressive accumulation of fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), without concomitant infiltration of macrophages and muscle stem cell-mediated regeneration. Denervation-activated FAPs exhibited persistent STAT3 activation and secreted elevated levels of IL-6, which promoted muscle atrophy and fibrosis. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Irisin Alleviates Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy by Inducing Protective Autophagy via mTOR-Independent Activation of the AMPK-ULK1 Pathway

Irisin deficiency caused reduced autophagy and aggravated autophagy flux failure, whereas irisin overexpression or supplementation induced protective autophagy and improved autophagy flux, which were reversed by autophagy inhibitors Atg5 siRNA, 3-MA and chloroquine diphosphate. [J Mol Cell Cardiol] Abstract

Protective Role of Soluble Adenylyl Cyclase against Reperfusion-Induced Injury of Cardiac Cells

Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) played an essential role in supporting cardiomyocytes viability during reperfusion. Elevation of mitochondrial cyclic AMP pool either by sAC overexpression or phosphodiesterase 2 inhibition beneficially affected cardiomyocyte survival during reperfusion. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

A Tissue-Engineered Scale Model of the Heart Ventricle

The authors reported tissue-engineered scale models of the human left ventricle, made of nanofibrous scaffolds that promoted native-like anisotropic myocardial tissue genesis and chamber-level contractile function. [Nat Biomed Eng] Abstract | Press Release

Cardiovascular Progenitor Cells Cultured aboard the International Space Station Exhibit Altered Developmental and Functional Properties

Genes related to mechanotransduction were downregulated, while the expression of cytoskeletal genes, non-canonical Wnt ligands and Wnt/calcium signaling molecules were significantly elevated in neonatal cardiovascular progenitor cells. [npj Microgravity] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

The Transcription Factor Lef1 Switches Partners from β-Catenin to Smad3 during Muscle Stem Cell Quiescence

Scientists demonstrated that Tcf/Lef activity during quiescence depended not on β-catenin but on the transforming growth factor-β effector and transcriptional coactivator Smad3, which colocalized with Lef1 at canonical Wnt-responsive elements and directly interacted with Lef1 specifically in G₀. [Sci Signal] Abstract | Press Release

Mitochondrial ROS-Derived PTEN Oxidation Activates PI3K Pathway for mTOR-Induced Myogenic Autophagy

Researchers demonstrated that the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cascade, and the activated mTORC1 subsequently induced autophagic signaling via phosphorylation of uncoordinated-51-like kinase 1 at serine 317 and upregulation of Atg proteins to prompt muscle differentiation. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Distinct Metabolic States Govern Skeletal Muscle Stem Cell Fates during Prenatal and Postnatal Myogenesis

The authors characterized the metabolic pathways that mediate the commitment and differentiation of mouse skeletal muscle stem cells, and how their modulation can influence the cell state. They showed that quiescent satellite stem cells have low energetic demands and perturbed oxidative phosphorylation during aging, which was also the case for cells from post-mortem tissues. [J Cell Sci] Full Article

Epigenetic Activation of PERP Transcription by MKL1 Contributes to ROS-Induced Apoptosis in Skeletal Muscle Cells

Modulator megakaryocytic leukemia 1 (MKL1) interacted with and was recruited to the p53 apoptosis effector related to PMP-22 (PERP) promoter by the transcription factor E2F1. Once bound to the PERP promoter, MKL1 engaged the histone demethylase KDM3A to modulate the chromatin structure surrounding the PERP promoter thereby leading to PERP trans-activation. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

A Novel Human Cell Culture Model to Study Visceral Smooth Muscle Phenotypic Modulation in Health and Disease

Scientists aimed to develop a new visceral smooth muscle cell (SMC) culture model that allows controlled phenotypic modulation. Maintaining visceral SMCs confluent for six days increased α-smooth muscle actin and SM22α, whereas smooth muscle myosin heavy chain was only slightly upregulated. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Abstract

Contractility of Airway Smooth Muscle Cell in Response to Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Traction Force Microscopy

Researchers found that zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) exposure led to a decrease of airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) viability in a dose-dependent manner. Cytoskeleton structure was also found to be significantly altered in ASMC with the stimulation of ZnO-NPs. [Ann Biomed Eng] Abstract

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Emerging Roles of Sphingosylphosphorylcholine in Modulating Cardiovascular Functions and Diseases

The authors summarize the current knowledge of the potential roles of sphingosylphosphorylcholine in the development of cardiovascular diseases and discuss the possible underlying mechanisms. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

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

Sarepta Therapeutics Announces That Phase I/IIa Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) Micro-Dystrophin Gene Therapy Trial Placed on Clinical Hold Due to an Out-of-Specification Production Lot; No Observed Safety Events

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., has been notified by the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital that they have received a letter from the FDA, stating that their Phase I/IIa DMD Micro-Dystrophin Gene Therapy Trial has been placed on clinical hold due to the presence of a trace amount of DNA fragment in research-grade third-party supplied plasmid. [Sarepta Therapeutics] Press Release

Biogen Pays $27.5M Upfront for 2 AliveGen Muscle Drugs

The deal was announced among Biogen’s second-quarter results update and includes two drugs that target myostatin, a regulator of muscle growth and function. Biogen says it plans to develop the two candidates for indications such as spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. [Biogen (Fierce Biotech)] Press Release

Government of Canada Further Strengthens Science and Encourages Scientists to Speak about Their Work

Canadians count on federal scientists to produce the evidence needed to keep their air clean, their food safe and their water fresh. The Government of Canada is taking greater steps to ensure that this evidence is gathered without political or commercial interference. [Government of Canada] Editorial

Springer Nature Creates New Role to Lead On Research Integrity

As one of the largest publishers of academic research, Springer Nature has developed a new position of Research Integrity Director to ensure the growing volume of scientific content being published continues to be rigorously assessed, with robust processes in place to prevent and address research misconduct and breaches of publication ethics. [Springer Nature] Editorial

Trump Desperately Needs a Science Adviser, Experts Say. He Just Doubled the Record for Time Without One

President Trump can add another tick in the records column: he doubled the length of time that any modern president has gone without a science adviser. [Washington Post] Editorial

UK-India Science Ministers Reinforce Strong Research Partnership as Future Collaboration Is Announced

The UK and Indian governments signaled their commitment to a deeper relationship by jointly announcing four new awards worth £4.8 million under the Civil Nuclear Energy program and seven new awards worth £10.8 million under Phase 2 of the Global research program on health. [GOV.UK] Editorial

New Evidence USCIS Policies Increased Denials of H-1B Visas

New data show that in 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied many more H-1B petitions and issued numerous costly Requests for Evidence to stop highly educated foreign nationals from working in America. [Forbes Media LLC] Editorial

NEW LabRoots: 2^nd Annual Cell Biology Virtual Event
September 26-27, 2018
Online, Online

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

NEW Assistant/Associate Professor – Muscle Biologist (University of Maryland)

NEW Faculty Position – Cardiac/Skeletal Muscle Molecular & Integrative Physiology (University of Minnesota)

Laboratory Research Scientist – Left Ventricle Heart Development (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cardiac Cells (University of British Columbia)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Development of Strategies to Recover Muscle Mass (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Postdoctoral Associate – Muscle Cell Research (University of Louisville)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunoengineering for Muscle Regeneration (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Skeletal Muscle and Tendon Connective Matrix Biology and Mechanotransduction (Weill Cornell Medical College)

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

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)

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