Muscle Cell News Volume 3.33 | Oct 1 2018

TOP STORY

Alpha-Enolase Regulates the Malignant Phenotype of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells via the AMPK-Akt Pathway

The silencing or inhibition of α-enolase (ENO1) decreased pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) proliferation and de-differentiation, and induced PASMC apoptosis, whereas the overexpression of ENO1 promoted a synthetic, de- differentiated, and apoptotic-resistant phenotype via the AMPK-Akt pathway. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

A Splicing-Independent Function of RBM10 Controls Specific 3′ UTR Processing to Regulate Cardiac Hypertrophy

Scientists demonstrated downregulation of RNA binding motif protein 10 (RBM10) during cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Ectopic re-expression of RBM10 rescued cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. RBM10 depletion evoked a hypertrophic response in H9c2 cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Astragaloside IV Protects Rat Cardiomyocytes from Hypoxia-Induced Injury by Down-Regulation of miR-23a and miR-92a

The authors found that 10 μg/ml of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) exerted myocardioprotective effects against hypoxia-induced cell damage, as AS-IV significantly increased H9c2 cells viability and decreased apoptosis. The myocardioprotective effects of AS-IV were alleviated by miR-23a and/or miR-92a overexpression. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Role of Mcl-1 in Regulation of Cell Death in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes In Vitro

Knockdown of Mcl-1 with siRNAs reproducibly resulted in early marginal alterations in caspase 3/7 activity, LDH leakage, ATP content and cellular impedance. After 14 days of Mcl-1 knockdown, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, deteriorating effects on mitochondrial ultrastructure, and alterations in beat rate and amplitude were revealed. [Toxicol Appl Pharmacol] Abstract

MicroRNA-204 Is Necessary for Aldosterone-Stimulated T-Type Calcium Channel Expression in Cardiomyocytes

When miR-204 was overexpressed in isolated cardiomyocytes, their spontaneous beating frequency was significantly increased after 24 hours, like upon aldosterone stimulation, and messenger RNAs coding T-channels were increased. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Genetic and Pharmacological Regulation of the Endocannabinoid CB1 Receptor in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

In murine and human models, CB1 transcripts showed the highest degree of expression at disease onset, and then declined overtime. Rimonabant, an antagonist of CB1, promoted human satellite cell differentiation in vitro, increased the number of regenerated myofibers, and prevented locomotor impairment in dystrophic mice. [Nat Commun] Full Article

RhoA and ERK Signaling Regulate the Expression of the Myogenic Transcription Factor Nfix

Investigators showed that JunB, a member of the AP-1 family, was an activator of Nfix, which then led to fetal myogenesis. RhoA and ROCK repressed ERK kinase activity, which promoted JunB and Nfix expression. The role of ERK in the activation of Nfix was conserved post-natally in satellite cells, which represent canonical myogenic stem cells of adult muscle. [Development] Abstract

Protein Disulfide Isomerase as a Prosurvival Factor in Cell Therapy for Muscular and Vascular Diseases

Researchers determined that overexpression of protein disulfide isomerase confered a survival advantage for muscle cells in vitro and in vivo to human myoblasts injected into murine dystrophic muscle and to endothelial cells administered upon hindlimb ischemia damage, improving the therapeutic outcome of the cell therapy treatment. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Loss of the Adipokine Lipocalin-2 Impairs Satellite Cell Activation and Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Though lipocalin-2 (LCN2) was minimally present in uninjured skeletal muscle, its expression was increased significantly at one and two days post-injury; with expression present in Pax7-positive satellite cells. While satellite cell content was unchanged, the ability of quiescent satellite cells to become activated was significantly impaired in LCN2 deleted skeletal muscles. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Endothelial Cells Promote Calcification in Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Calcium deposition, alkaline phosphatase activity and the expression levels of calcification-promoting proteins in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of spontaneously hypertensive rats were significantly higher than that cultured without endothelial cells (ECs) after six days of co-culture with ECs or conditioned culture with the medium of ECs, however, there were no statistical differences between SMCs of Wistar rats. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Down-Regulates sGC Subunit Expression in Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells via MEK and ERK Signaling

Scientists found that TGFβ decreased soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) expression through stimulating its type I receptor; TGFβ type I receptor inhibitors prevented TGFβ-1-mediated decrease in sGCα1 subunit mRNA levels in the cells. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

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The Deployment of Cell Lineages That Form the Mammalian Heart

The function of the mammalian heart depends on the interplay between different cardiac cell types. The authors discuss the diverse origins of cardiac cell types and the lineage relationships between cells of a given type that contribute to different parts of the heart. [Nat Rev Cardiol] Abstract

Roles of Airway Smooth Muscle Dysfunction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Investigators highlight the regulatory roles of multiple factors in the development of airway smooth muscle (ASM) dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aim to understand the regulatory mechanism by which ASM dysfunctions are initiated, and explore the clinical significance of ASM on alterations of airway structure and function in COPD and development of novel therapeutic strategies for COPD. [J Transl Med] Full Article

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cTAP to Present Late-Breaking Results Supporting Advancements in Clinical Trial Design for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The collaborative Trajectory Analysis Project (cTAP) announced the acceptance of a late-breaking abstract for presentation. [Press release from Collaborative Trajectory Analysis Project (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research to be presented at the 23^rd International Congress of the World Muscle Society, Mendoza] Press Release

Sarepta Therapeutics and Jerry R. Mendell, M.D. from Nationwide Children’s Hospital to Provide Update on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Gene Therapy Program

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. and Jerry R. Mendell, M.D., will host a webcast conference call. The call will focus on an update regarding Sarepta’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) micro-dystrophin gene therapy program and will be led by Dr. Mendell, a renowned researcher in the field of DMD. [Press release from Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 23^rd International Congress of the World Muscle Society, Mendoza] Press Release

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase III PolarisDMD Clinical Trial For Edasalonexent In Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of PolarisDMD, the company’s Phase III trial for edasalonexent in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Edasalonexent inhibits NF-kB, which is the key link between loss of dystrophin and disease pathology and plays a fundamental role in the initiation and progression of skeletal and cardiac muscle disease in DMD. [Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

ProtoKinetix Begins Cardiovascular Research

ProtoKinetix Incorporated announced the launch of a proof of concept study in the field of cardiovascular sciences. The overarching goal of this project is to develop PKX-001 as a cardioprotective agent with wide ranging applications in cardiovascular medicine. [Protokinetix Inc.] Press Release

Birmingham Researcher Receives Prestigious Award to Develop Innovative Drugs for Heart Failure and Diabetes

The University of Birmingham has been awarded £1.78 million by the Wellcome Trust for research aimed at finding new therapies to treat diseases such as heart failure, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. [University of Birmingham] Press Release

TARA Launches Cardiotype.Fo, Best-In-Class Assay for Assessment of Cardiac Contractility

TARA Biosystems, Inc. announced the launch of Cardiotype.Fo, the best-in-class in vitro system for assessment of cardiac contractility. [TARA Biosystems, Inc.] Press Release

Finland joins Europe’s Bold Open-Access Push

Finland’s national research funder has signed up to Plan S — a push by a group of European organizations to make a radical change to the way that research results are published. [Nature News] Editorial

Hundreds of Academics at Top UK Universities Accused of Bullying

Hundreds of academics have been accused of bullying students and colleagues in the past five years, prompting concerns that a culture of harassment and intimidation is thriving in Britain’s leading universities. [The Guardian] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Mitochondrial Biology in Heart and Skeletal Muscle
January 13-17, 2019
Keystone, Colorado, United States

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NEW Faculty Position – Cardiovascular Diseases (Mayo Clinic)

Faculty Position – Department of Translational & Vascular Biology (University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Smooth Muscle & Endothelial Cell Ion Channel Research (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Regeneration & Heart Failure (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Molecular & Genomic Regulation of Cell Specification (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Faculty Positions – Cardiovascular Research (Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Institute)

Tenure-Track Faculty Positions – Therapeutic Cells Research & Cardiovascular Research (Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Biology (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Smooth Muscle Research (University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Cardiac & Skeletal Muscle Research (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University)

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