Muscle Cell News Volume 4.03 | Jan 28 2019

TOP STORY

Aging Disrupts Muscle Stem Cell Function by Impairing Matricellular WISP1 Secretion from Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors

Transplantation of young fibro-adipogenic progenitors or systemic treatment with WISP1 restores the myogenic capacity of muscle stem cells in aged mice and rescues skeletal muscle regeneration. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

STAT3-Induced Upregulation of lncRNA MEG3 Regulates the Growth of Cardiac Hypertrophy through miR-361-5p/HDAC9 Axis

Mechanically, researchers found that MEG3 could be upregulated by the transcription factor STAT3 and could regulate miR-361-5p and HDAC9 by acting as a ceRNA. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Mechanical Activation of Noncoding-RNA-Mediated Regulation of Disease-Associated Phenotypes in Human Cardiomyocytes

After hydrogel stiffening to mimic fibrosis, only the cardiovascular-risk alleles (R/R cardiomyocytes) exhibited asynchronous contractions. These effects were associated with increased expression of the short ANRIL isoform in R/R cardiomyocytes, which induced a c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation-based mechanism that impaired gap junctions following stiffening. [Nat Biomed Eng] Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Circ-ZNF609 Regulates G1-S Progression in Rhabdomyosarcoma

Scientists found that circ-ZNF609 is upregulated in biopsies from the two major rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) subtypes, embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar RMS. They discovered that in an ERMS-derived cell line circ-ZNF609 knock-down induced a specific block at the G1-S transition, a strong decrease of p-Akt protein level and an alteration of the pRb/Rb ratio. [Oncogene] Full Article

Scavenger Receptor Class A1 Mediates Uptake of Morpholino Antisense Oligonucleotide into Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle

Researchers found that phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMO) uptake and exon-skipping efficiency were promoted in dystrophin-deficient myotubes via endocytosis through a caveolin-dependent pathway. Scavenger receptor class A was upregulated and localized in juxtaposition with caveolin-3 in these myotubes and promoted PMO-induced exon skipping. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

sPIF Promotes Myoblast Differentiation and Utrophin Expression While Inhibiting Fibrosis in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy via the H19/miR-675/Let-7 and miR-21 Pathways

Scientists demonstrated that synthetic preimplantation factor treatment promoted mouse and human myoblast differentiation and inhibited the expression of collagen 1A1, collagen 1A2, and TGF-β in duchenne muscular dystrophy patient-derived myoblasts. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Stiffness of Aligned Fibers Regulates the Phenotypic Expression of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Researchers explored the stiffness effects of electrospun aligned fibrous substrates on phenotypic modulation in vascular smooth muscle cells. [Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

The Role of the LncRNA-FA2H-2-MLKL Pathway in Atherosclerosis by Regulation of Autophagy Flux and Inflammation through mTOR-Dependent Signaling

Investigators demonstrated that the effects of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein on autophagy might be associated with a mechanistic target of rapamycin-dependent signaling pathways. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

LncRNA MEG8 Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation, Migration and Apoptosis by Targeting PPARα

An ox-LDL induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) model was established, in which long non-coding RNAs MEG8 expression was suppressed, while miR-181a-5p was enhanced in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Enhanced MEG8 expression suppressed the proliferation and migration ability of VSMCs, and induced apoptosis. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

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Mechanical Regulation of Gene Expression in Cardiac Myocytes and Fibroblasts

The authors summarize mechanoregulated pathways in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts that lead to altered gene expression and cell remodeling under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. [Nat Rev Cardiol] Abstract

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TWi Biotechnology Announces Last Patient Enrolled in Phase II Proof-of-Concept Study of AC-203 for Treatment of Epidermolysis Bullosa

TWi Biotechnology Inc. announced that it has completed patient enrollment in its Phase II clinical trial of AC-203 for the treatment of inherited Epidermolysis Bullosa, including Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex, Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa and Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. [Ancheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Amgen Receives NMPA Approval for Repatha^® in China to Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Events

Amgen announced that the National Medical Products Administration has approved a new indication for Repatha^® as the first PCSK9 inhibitor in China for adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and coronary revascularization. [Amgen Inc (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Neurology Publishes Study Reporting Significant Improvements in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients Treated with Capricor’s Novel Cell Therapy

The HOPE-Duchenne clinical trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of a single intracoronary dose of Capricor Therapeutics’ novel cell therapy, CAP-1002, in boys and young men in advanced stages of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Capricor Therapeutics] Press Release

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Awards $105,000 Grant to University of Missouri to Explore a Mini-Dystrophin Gene Aimed at Protecting Cardiac Function

PPMD is excited to award the University of Missouri School of Medicine a grant for $105,000 to continue development of a minimized dystrophin gene aimed at protecting cardiac function in people with Duchenne. The project is led by Dongsheng Duan, PhD, Margaret Proctor Mulligan Professor in Medical Research at the MU School of Medicine. [Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy] Press Release

FDA Staff Return to Work, but Threat of Second Shutdown Looms

FDA staff are returning to paid work after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. But with temporary funding set to lapse Feb. 15 and President Donald Trump skeptical a deal can be reached, the agency may be plunged back into a shutdown in less than three weeks. [FierceBiotech] Editorial

Kosovo Academics Brace for Controversial Ethnic Land Swaps

Proposed land exchanges between Kosovo and Serbia could undermine efforts to rebuild multi-ethnic education and research. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conference: From Molecular & Cellular Insights to Therapeutic Approaches in Atherosclerosis
June 16-21, 2019
Newry, Maine, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cardiomyopathy (University of Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute)

Clinical Tenure Track/Tenure-Eligible Investigator – Cardiology (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute)

PhD Positions – Cardiovascular Research (Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardiomyocyte Mechanobiology (Queen Mary University of London)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Cardiovascular Medicine (University of California, Davis)

Assistant Professor – Sarcoma & Skeletal-Related Malignancies (UC Davis School of Medicine)

Scientist – Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Drug Discovery (Expansion Therapeutics, Inc.)

Professor – Cardiovascular Research (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Assistant Professor Positions – Department of Cardiology (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Tenure Track Assistant Professor – Molecular Mechanisms of Muscles for Exercise & Health (Technical University of Munich)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cardiovascular Sciences (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Muscle Regeneration & Muscular Dystrophy Research (Carnegie Institution of Science)

Assistant/Associate Adjunct Professor – Cardiovascular Medicine (UC Davis)

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