Muscle Cell News 3.27 August 13, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYTbx6 knockout in mouse pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) using CRISPR/Cas9 technology inhibited mesoderm and cardiovascular differentiation, whereas transient Tbx6 expression induced mesoderm and cardiovascular specification from mouse and human PSCs via direct upregulation of Mesp1, repression of Sox2, and activation of BMP/Nodal/Wnt signaling. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLSPrecardiac Organoids Form Two Heart Fields via Bmp/Wnt Signaling Researchers generated precardiac spheroids with pluripotent stem cells harboring GFP/RFP reporters under the control of first heart field/second heart field markers, respectively. GFP+ cells and RFP+ cells appeared from two distinct areas and developed in a complementary fashion. [Nat Commun] Full Article Polycystic kidney disease 2-like 1 (PKD2L1) deficiency increased p300-mediated acetylation of histone 3 lysine 27 on the promoter of sodium/calcium exchange 1 (NCX1) by repressing AMP-activated protein kinase activity, resulting in NCX1 overexpression and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Cardiomyocytes Derived from Human CardiopoieticAmniotic Fluids Differentiated cells were positive for the calcium pumps CACNA1C and SERCA2a, with approximately 30% of Cardiopoieticamniotic fluid-derived cardiomyocyte-like cells responding to caffeine or adrenergic stimulation. Some spontaneous rare beating foci were also observed. [Sci Rep] Full Article SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLSJNK Regulates Muscle Remodeling via Myostatin/SMAD Inhibition Investigators showed that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a molecular switch that when active, stimulated muscle fibers to grow, resulting in increased muscle mass. Conversely, when muscle JNK activation was suppressed, an alternative remodeling program was initiated, resulting in smaller, more oxidative muscle fibers, and enhanced aerobic fitness. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release Atg7 knockdown suppressed neonatal satellite cell (nSC) proliferation and differentiation, downregulating the GH-IGF1 functions. When scientists disrupted autophagy, nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (NFE2L2)/NRF2 accumulated in muscle and nSCs and negatively modulated DNA-damage inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3)/CHOP expression. [Autophagy] Abstract Inflammation activated molecular mechanisms contributing to muscle atrophy, including AMPK, p-38 MAPK and JNK, while inhibiting Akt-mediated myogenic signals. Well-characterized exosome-like vesicles released from inflamed myotubes induced myoblast inflammation and inhibited myogenic mechanisms while stimulating atrophic signals. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article miR-139 was found to target the 3′-untranslated region of the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene and regulate its expression. In addition, the expression of miR-139 was found to be regulated by its host gene phosphodiesterase 2A via inhibition of the latter by CRISPR interference. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLSThe Nuclear Receptor NOR-1 Modulates Redox Homeostasis in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Lentiviral overexpression of neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 (NOR-1) increased reactive oxygen species in human vascular smooth muscle cells. NOR-1 strongly increased NADPH oxidase NOX1 mRNA and protein levels, while NOR-1 silencing significantly reduced NOX1 expression. [J Mol Cell Cardiol] Abstract Researchers identified activation of a novel Notch3 signaling pathway in transactivator of transcription (TAT)-mediated proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) was identified as a novel downstream molecule that was induced following Notch activation. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article Investigators showed that incubation of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells with low concentration of ELDL resulted in significantly enhanced foam cell formation compared to oxidized LDL or native LDL. [Sci Rep] Full Article Scientists found that adenovirus-mediated miR-638 overexpression markedly inhibited airway smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, while ablation of miR-638 by anti-miR-638 markedly increased cell proliferation and migration, as determined by WST-8 proliferation and scratch wound assays. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Extracellular Matrix News & ESC & iPSC News. | |
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REVIEWSThe Salient Role of MicroRNAS in Atherogenesis Investigators provide a detailed summary on the current paradigms in miRNA-dependent regulation, the emerging role of long non-coding RNAs in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, and clinical interventions targeting these in an attempt to develop novel diagnostics and treatments for atherosclerosis. [J Mol Cell Cardiol] Abstract How Sickle Cell Disease Impairs Skeletal Muscle Function: Implications in Daily Life Recent findings observed that sickle cell disease (SCD) patients demonstrate significant skeletal muscle remodeling and display reduced muscle functional capacities, contributing to exercise intolerance and poor quality of life. The authors review the literature regarding the impact of the disease on muscular tissue characteristics and function, as well as the corresponding implications for SCD patients’ quality of life. [Med Sci Sports Exerc] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSNeovasc Inc. announced that it has entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement relating to certain know-how developed by Penn Medicine and the Gorman Cardiovascular Research Group at the University of Pennsylvania. [Neovasc Inc.] Press Release First Patient Enrolled in Mallinckrodt’s Phase II Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Trial Mallinckrodt plc confirmed enrollment of the first patient in the company’s Phase II study assessing the efficacy and safety of investigational drug MNK-1411 in patients ages four to eight with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. [Mallinckrodt plc (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release $2M NIH Grant to Study Genetic Mechanisms of Inherited Heart Muscle Disorders J. Travis Hinson, M.D., a joint faculty member at UConn Health and The Jackson Laboratory has received more than $2 million from the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to study the mechanisms responsible for a serious and often fatal heart condition. [The Jackson Laboratory] Press Release Engineering Muscles and Organs in Space The National Science Foundation has invested in two projects for fundamental biomedical engineering research onboard the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory for the benefit of life on Earth. The awards are made jointly with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, manager of operations for the experiments. [National Science Foundation] Press Release School of Medicine Professor Receives International Space Station Award for Stem Cell Research A Loma Linda University School of Medicine faculty member was awarded the 2018 International Space Station Compelling Results Award in Biology and Medicine in July for her research on the impact of microgravity and spaceflight on neonatal and adult cardiovascular progenitor cells. [Loma Linda University Health] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSGottlieb: FDA Will Streamline Drug Safety Evaluations The FDA will soon standardize the way it handles data on the safety and effectiveness of drugs in an effort to reduce inconsistencies in the drug review process. [STAT News] Editorial India Cracks Down on Plagiarism at Universities India has for the first time introduced regulations to detect and punish acts of plagiarism at universities. Punishments for researchers or students caught breaking the rules range from requiring that a manuscript be withdrawn to sacking or expulsion, depending on the extent of the plagiarism. [Nature News] Editorial Japanese Medical University Admits to Discriminating against Female Applicants A prominent Japanese medical university said that school administrators have deliberately manipulated entrance exam scores to limit the number of women admitted. The confession helps explain the lopsided gender ratio of graduates from Tokyo Medical University and strengthens suspicions that similar practices have prevailed at other Japanese medical schools. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Top US Biomedical Institute Settles Gender-Discrimination Lawsuits The Salk Institute has reached a deal with two of three female scientists who alleged unequal treatment. Cancer researchers Katherine Jones and Victoria Lundblad have agreed to drop all claims against the institute in La Jolla, California, according to a joint statement released. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Alliance for Regenerative Medicine: Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa 2018 Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Scientist – Cardiovascular Research (University of Iowas Hospital and Clinics) NEW Postdoctoral Position – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research (Genethon) Laboratory Research Scientist – Left Ventricle Heart Development (The Francis Crick Institute) Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cardiac Cells (University of British Columbia) Postdoctoral Associate – Muscle Cell Research (University of Louisville) Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunoengineering for Muscle Regeneration (Duke University) 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) 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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