Muscle Cell News Volume 3.35 | Oct 22 2018

TOP STORY

SMYD2 Glutathionylation Contributes to Degradation of Sarcomeric Proteins

Researchers used a clickable glutathione approach in a cardiomyocyte cell line and found selective glutathionylation of SMYD2 at Cys13. They demonstrated that SMYD2 upon oxidation or glutathionylation at Cys13 lost its interaction with Hsp90 and N2A, a domain of titin. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

The Circular RNA ACR Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Suppressing Autophagy via Modulation of the Pink1/ FAM65B Pathway

Autophagy-related circular RNA (ACR) attenuated autophagy and cell death in cardiomyocytes. ACR activated Pink1 expression through directly binding to Dnmt3B and blocking Dnmt3B-mediated DNA methylation of Pink1 promoter. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Cardiac-Specific Mst1 Deficiency Inhibits ROS-Mediated JNK Signaling to Alleviate Ang II-Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis

Investigators showed that angiotensin II (Ang II) increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cardiomyocyte apoptosis; these were reversed by administration of the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine and by Mst1 deficiency, which suppressed c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation and downstream signaling. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Activation of the Interferon Type I Response Rather Than Autophagy Contributes to Myogenesis Inhibition in Congenital DM1 Myoblasts

Researchers indicated that abnormal autophagy was independent of myogenic differentiation, as congenital myotonic dystrophy type (CDM) 13 myoblasts differentiated as well as control myoblasts but underwent autophagy like CDM15, displaying impaired differentiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Epidermal Growth Factor – Based Adhesion Substrates Elicit Myoblast Scattering, Proliferation, Differentiation and Promote Satellite Cell Myogenic Activation

Adhesion of myoblasts to HEGF-based substrates induced scattering, decreased adhesion and cytoskeleton assembly; the concomitant presence of the RGD motifs potentiated all these effects. Recombinant substrates induced myoblast proliferation, differentiation and the development of multinucleated myotubes, thus favoring myoblast expansion and preserving their myogenic potential. [BBA-Mol Cell Res] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Platelet Releasate Promotes Skeletal Myogenesis by Increasing Muscle Stem Cell Commitment to Differentiation and Accelerates Muscle Regeneration following Acute Injury

Platelet releasate increased myoblast and muscle stem cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, which was mitigated by VEGFR and PDGFR inhibition. Inhibition of VEGFR and PDGFR ablated MyoD expression on proliferating muscle stem cells, compromising their commitment to differentiation in muscle fibers. [Acta Physiol (Oxf)] Abstract

Ether-Oxygen Containing Electrospun Microfibrous and Sub-Microfibrous Scaffolds Based on Poly(Butylene 1,4-Cyclohexanedicarboxylate) for Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering

C2C12 myogenic cells highly differentiated into mature myotubes when cultured on microfibres realised with the copolymer richest in triethylene cyclohexanedicarboxylate co-units. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Oxytocin Can Regulate Myometrial Smooth Muscle Excitability by Inhibiting the Na^± Activated K^± Channel, Slo2.1

Scientists reported that SLO2.1 was inhibited by oxytocin binding to the oxytocin receptor. Inhibition of SLO2.1 led to membrane depolarization and activation of voltage-dependent calcium channels, resulting in calcium influx. [J Physiol] Abstract

Characterization of Human PDGFRβ-Positive Pericytes from IPF and Non-IPF Lungs

Researchers found that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) pericytes migrated more rapidly and invaded a basement membrane matrix more readily than control pericytes. Exposure of cells to TGFβ, a major fibrosis-inducing cytokine, increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin and extracellular matrix genes in both control and IPF pericytes. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Th1 Cytokines, TNFα and IFNγ, Promote Corticosteroid Resistance in Developing Human Airway Smooth Muscle

In contrast to TNFα or IFNγ alone, the combination of TNFα/IFNγ blunted the ability of fluticasone propionate to reduce expression of the chemokines, CCL5 and CXCL10, despite expression of key anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid receptor target genes being largely unaffected by TNFα/IFNγ. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Sibutramine Facilitates Apoptosis and Contraction of Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells through Elevating Production of Reactive Oxygen Species

Treatment with sibutramine provoked human aortic smooth muscle cell apoptosis, which was attributed to production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria dysfunction. In addition, the drug treatment of the cell promoted calcium influx, phosphorylation of myosin light chain and contraction, which were abrogated by pretreating the cells with antioxidant and nitric oxide donor. [Eur J Pharmacol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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The Importance of mTOR Trafficking for Human Skeletal Muscle Translational Control

The authors present a novel model of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation in skeletal muscle where the translocation of mTOR and the lysosome toward the cell membrane is a key process in mTOR activation. [Exerc Sport Sci Rev] Abstract

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GeNeuro Confirms Potential of Novel pHERV-K Antibodies for ALS in Collaboration with NINDS, Secures Rights

GeNeuro announced that following a successful collaboration in preclinical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) models, the company has signed an exclusive worldwide license with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. [GeNeuro SA] Press Release

Pharnext Announces Positive Topline Results from Pivotal Phase III Trial of PXT3003 for Treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 1A Disease

Pharnext SA announced positive topline results from its pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating two doses of PXT3003 compared to placebo during 15 months for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A disease. [Pharnext SA] Press Release

$11 Million NIH Grant Creates New Center for Musculoskeletal Research

With an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health Center for Biomedical Research Excellence, Clemson University has launched the South Carolina Center for Translational Research Improving Musculoskeletal Health, or SC-TRIMH, a new research center that will bring together scientists from across South Carolina to change the way musculoskeletal disorders are diagnosed, treated and even studied. [Clemson University] Press Release

Lupin Neurosciences Announces Positive CHMP Opinion for NaMuscla^™ for the Treatment of Myotonia in Non-Dystrophic Myotonic Disorders

Lupin Neurosciences announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), has adopted a positive opinion recommending the marketing authorization of NaMuscla^™ for the symptomatic treatment of myotonia in adults with non-dystrophic myotonic disorders. [Lupin] Press Release

British Universities Set Up European Outposts As Brexit Looms

Some of Britain’s leading research institutions are establishing alliances with counterparts in other European countries — a move that might allow them to keep drawing on the EU’s science funds even in the case of a ‘no-deal’ divorce from the bloc, a more extreme form that Brexit could take. [Nature News] Editorial

UK’s Science Reputation ‘At Risk If Academic Visa Issues Not Resolved’

The Wellcome Trust, which grants more than £1bn for research each year, said the immigration system was “not up to scratch” after another scientific summit in the UK was marred by the visa barriers delegates and speakers faced. [The Guardian] Editorial

Breakthrough Prizes Recognize Aneuploidy Researcher, Biochemist

The 2019 Breakthrough Prizes in Life Sciences honor five scientists working in fields from genetics to microscopy, the Breakthrough Prize Foundation announced. Each take home $3 million. This year’s winners also include the developers of nusinersen, an oligonucleotide therapeutic for spinal muscular atrophy. [The Scientist] Editorial

Scientists Argue Heart Stem Cell Trial Should Be Paused

Days after Harvard Medical School said it found extensive falsified or fabricated data from the laboratory of a prominent heart researcher, doctors and scientists are urging a halt to a medical trial based in part on his work. They say that sick people should not be subjected to the risks of an experiment whose underlying science has been called into question. [The Washington Post] Editorial

NEW Lorne Cancer Conference 2019
February 14-16, 2019
Lorne, Australia

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Integrative Cardiac Pathophysiology (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Associate Specialist – Muscle Aging Biology (Nestle Research – EPFL Campus)

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)

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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