Muscle Cell News Volume 4.06 | Feb 25 2019

TOP STORY

DP₂ Antagonism Reduces Airway Smooth Muscle Mass in Asthma by Decreasing Eosinophilia and Myofibroblast Recruitment

Researchers experimentally confirmed that airway smooth muscle migration could be inhibited in vitro using prostaglandin D₂ type 2 receptor-specific antagonists in an airway smooth muscle cell culture model. [Sci Transl Med] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

High-Speed Mechano-Active Multielectrode Array for Investigating Rapid Stretch Effects on Cardiac Tissue

Investigators described a self-contained motor-less device that permited the assessment of impulse conduction along bioengineered strands of cardiac tissue in response to dynamic strain cycles. [Nat Commun] Full Article

YAP Partially Reprograms Chromatin Accessibility to Directly Induce Adult Cardiogenesis In Vivo

Investigators showed that an active version of the Hippo pathway effector YAP, termed YAP5SA, partially reprograms adult mouse cardiomyocytes to a more fetal and proliferative state. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Ferroptosis as a Target for Protection against Cardiomyopathy

Scientists discovered and demonstrated that ferroptosis, a programmed iron-dependent cell death, as a mechanism in murine models of doxorubicin- and ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiomyopathy. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

Connexin43 Dephosphorylation at Serine 282 Is Associated with Connexin43-Mediated Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis

Researchers found that transfecting an adenovirus carrying a mutant gene of gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43)-serine 282 substituted with alanine into neonatal rat ventricular myocytes induced cell apoptosis and Ca²⁺ transient desynchronization, whereas using gap junction inhibitor or knocking down Cx43 expression with Cx43-miRNA caused uncoupled Ca2⁺ signaling without cell death. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Opposing Roles of TCF7/LEF1 and TCF7L2 in Cyclin D2 and Bmp4 Expression and Cardiomyocyte Cell Cycle Control during Late Heart Development

Tcf7l2 was a primary T-cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer factor family member in cardiomyocytes and underwent alternative splicing during heart development. A TCF7L2 intensity gradient opposite to that of β-catenin and cardiomyocyte proliferative activity was present in fetal hearts. Wnt activation by cardiac deletion of APC, a negative Wnt regulator, dramatically increased Cyclin D2 and BMP4. [Lab Invest] Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Induced by Alternating Electrical and Mechanical Stimulations Increases the Contraction of Engineered Skeletal Muscle Tissues

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling improved contractile force for a short time, and a coordinated, combined electrical and mechanical stimulation induced the desired ECM remodeling. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Recessive Mutations in Muscle-Specific Isoforms of FXR1 Cause Congenital Multi-Minicore Myopathy

Scientists report that recessive mutations in a particular exon of FXR1 cause congenital multi-minicore myopathy in humans and mice. Additionally, they showed that while Myf5-dependent depletion of all FXR1P isoforms is neonatal lethal, mice carrying mutations in exon-15 display non-lethal myopathies which vary in severity depending on the specific effect of each mutation on the protein. [Nat Commun] Full Article

miR-15b and miR-322 Inhibit SETD3 Expression to Repress Muscle Cell Differentiation

Scientists report that two important miRNAs could repress SETD3 and negatively contribute to myoblast differentiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Nf-κB-Responsive miR-155 Induces Functional Impairment of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Downregulating Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase

Investigators analyzed the expression levels of miR-155 in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), mouse vessels, and clinical specimens and then assessed its role in VSMC function. Treatment with tumor necrosis factor-α elevated miR-155 biogenesis in cultured VSMCs and vessel segments, which was prevented by NF-κB inhibition. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

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Circadian Rhythms and the Molecular Clock in Cardiovascular Biology and Disease

The authors summarize the role of the circadian clock in all major cardiovascular cell types and organs. They discuss the role of circadian rhythms in cardiovascular physiology and disease. They also postulate how circadian rhythms can serve as a therapeutic target by exploiting or altering molecular time to improve existing therapies and develop novel ones. [Nat Rev Cardiol] Abstract

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

Ipsen Strikes $1.3B Clementia Buyout to Boost Rare Disease Unit

Ipsen and Clementia Pharmaceuticals announced that they have entered into an agreement for Ipsen to acquire Clementia Pharmaceuticals, including its key late-stage clinical asset palovarotene, an investigational retinoic acid receptor gamma selective agonist, for the treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, multiple osteochondromas and other diseases. [Ipsen Group] Press Release

Amgen, Cytokinetics and Servier Announce Start of Meteoric-HF, the Second Phase III Clinical Trial of Omecamtiv Mecarbil in Patients with Heart Failure

Amgen, Cytokinetics, Incorporated and Servier announced that METEORIC-HF, the second Phase III clinical trial of omecamtiv mecarbil, a novel cardiac myosin activator, is open to enrollment. [Amgen] Press Release

Cytokinetics Announces Initiation of Phase I Clinical Study of AMG 594, a Cardiac Troponin Activator

Cytokinetics, Incorporated announced that the first subject has been dosed in a Phase I, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single and multiple ascending dose study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of AMG 594 in healthy subjects. [Cytokinetics, Incorporated] Press Release

Sarepta Announces FDA Acceptance of Golodirsen (SRP-4053) New Drug Application for Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Amenable to Skipping Exon 53

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. announced the Food and Drug Administration, Division of Neurology, has accepted its New Drug Application seeking accelerated approval for golodirsen (SRP-4053) and provided a regulatory action date of August 19, 2019. [Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

CRISPR Babies Trial May Have Been Government Funded

Documents about the experiment challenge a Chinese government investigation’s finding that He Jiankui mostly acted alone. [The Scientist] Editorial

‘Reprogrammed’ Stem Cells to Treat Spinal-Cord Injuries for the First Time

Scientists in Japan now have permission to inject ‘reprogrammed’ stem cells into people with spinal-cord injuries. An upcoming trial will mark the first time that induced pluripotent stem cells have been used to treat spinal-cord injuries, after a committee at Japan’s health ministry approved the study. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conference (GRC): Myogenesis: Building, Maintaining & Regenerating Skeletal Muscle
June 9-14, 2019
Lucca, Italy

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

NEW Assistant Professor – Sarcoma or Skeletal Related Malignancies (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Position – Muscle Stem Cell Biology (University of Sherbrooke)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells & Cardiac Regeneration (Temple University)

Assistant Specialist – Cardiovascular Research (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cardiac Stem Cells (University of Louisville)

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)

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

Assistant/Associate Adjunct Professor – Cardiovascular Medicine (University of California Davis)

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