Muscle Cell News Volume 4.07 | Mar 4 2019

TOP STORY

Perivascular Cell-Specific Knockout of the Stem Cell Pluripotency Gene Oct4 Inhibits Angiogenesis

Knockout of Oct4 in perivascular cells impaired perfusion recovery and decreased angiogenesis following hindlimb ischemia. Transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that expression of the migratory gene Slit3 was reduced following loss of Oct4 in cultured smooth muscle cells, and in Oct4-deficient perivascular cells in ischemic hindlimb muscle. [Nat Commun] Full Article

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CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Hypoxia Modulates the PP2A System in Human Cardiovascular Cell Lines: HIF-1α Dependent and Independent Regulation of PP2A in Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes

Cardiovascular cell lines were cultured in cell type specific media under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. Effects on mRNA expression, phosphatase activity, post-translational modification, and involvement of HIF-1α were assessed using RT-PCR, immunoblotting, an activity assay, ELISA, and siRNA silencing. [Br J Pharmacol] Abstract

TRIM72 Contributes to Cardiac Fibrosis via Regulating STAT3/Notch-1 Signaling

In an in vitro study, tripartite motif protein 72 (TRIM72) was similarly upregulated in cardiac fibroblasts. Knockdown of TRIM72 markedly suppressed collagen type I and α-smooth muscle actin expression and significantly decreased the proliferation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Tead1 Is Required for Perinatal Cardiomyocyte Proliferation

Tead1-deficient cardiomyocytes had significantly decreased proliferation during the immediate postnatal period, when proliferation rate was normally high. Deletion of Tead1 in HL-1 cardiac cell line confirmed that cell-autonomous Tead1 function was required for normal cardiomyocyte proliferation. [PLoS One] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Cyclic Nucleotide Signalling Compartmentation by Phosphodiesterases in Cultured Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Biochemical assay revealed that PDE1, PDE5 and PDE9 represent the major cGMP-hydrolysing activity in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Basal PDE1 exerted a functional role in degrading in situ the cGMP produced in response to the particulate GC activation by the C-type natriuretic peptide. [Br J Pharmacol] Abstract

Differential Effects of Rapamycin and Metformin in Combination with Rapamycin on Mechanisms of Proteostasis in Cultured Skeletal Myotubes

The authors accounted for the independent effects of cell growth and loss, and isolated the contribution of autophagy and mitochondrial fission to obtain a comprehensive assessment of protein turnover. Compared to control, both rapamycin (Rap) and metformin+Rap treatments lowered mitochondrial protein synthesis rates, and slowed cellular proliferation. [J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

SMAD4 Rare Variants in Individuals and Families with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections

Cellular studies revealed that the SMAD4 p. c.290G>T, p.(Arg97Leu) alteration increased SMAD4 ubiquitination and 26S proteasome-mediated protein degradation. Smooth muscle cells infected with lentivirus expressing the SMAD4 p.(Arg97Leu) variant demonstrated reduced contractile protein gene expression when compared to that of wild-type SMAD4. [Eur J Hum Genet] Abstract

Dysfunctional High-Density Lipoprotein Activates Toll-Like Receptors via Serum Amyloid A in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The serum amyloid A-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production was dependent on the activation of TLR2 and TLR4 as determined by studies with specific receptor antagonists and agonists or siRNA approach. Experiments were confirmed in tissues from TLR2 knockout, TLR4 deficient and TLR2 knock-out/TLR4 deficient mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Long Non-Coding RNA-SRA Promotes Neointimal Hyperplasia and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Proliferation via MEK-ERK-CREB Pathway

Long noncoding RNA-steroid receptor RNA activator (LncRNA-SRA) overexpression led to the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). By stimulating the phosphorylation of MEK, ERK and CREB, lncRNA-SRA promoted VSMC proliferation. [Vascul Pharmacol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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Regulation of Il-17A and Implications for TGF-β1 Co-Modulation of Airway Smooth Muscle Remodeling in Severe Asthma

The authors review the evidence demonstrating the extent to which T-helper cell 17 (T_H17)-secreted interleukin-17A (IL-17A) interacts with various immune factors, specifically TGF-β1, to contribute to airway smooth muscle remodeling and altered function in TH17-driven endotypes of severe asthma. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

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

Biogen Further Expands Presence in China with Approval of Spinraza^® (Nusinersen), the First and Only Treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Biogen Inc. announced that SPINRAZA has been approved by the China National Medical Products Association for the treatment of 5q spinal muscular atrophy, expanding the company’s presence in China. [Biogen Inc.] Press Release

Sarepta Therapeutics Announces Positive and Robust Expression and Biomarker Data from the First Three-Patient Cohort Dosed in the MYO-101 Gene Therapy Trial to Treat Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2E, or Beta-Sarcoglycanopathy

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. announced positive results from three Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy Type 2E clinical trial participants who received MYO-101. [Sarepta Therapeutics] Press Release

Myonexus Therapeutics Announces Accelerated Acquisition by Sarepta Therapeutics

Myonexus Therapeutics announced Sarepta will exercise its option to purchase Myonexus for $165 million. [Myonexus Therapeutics] Press Release

Peer-Review Experiments Tracked in Online Repository

A grass-roots group of biologists has started a website to keep track of the proliferation of experiments in academic peer review — including trials and platforms aimed at making the review process faster, cheaper, and more transparent and interactive. [Nature News] Editorial

NIH Letters Asking about Undisclosed Foreign Ties Rattle U.S. Universities

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recently sent letters to dozens of major U.S. research universities asking them to provide information about specific faculty members with NIH funding who are believed to have links to foreign governments that the Bethesda, Maryland based institute did not know about. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms that Underpin Wound Repair and Regeneration
June 9-14, 2019
New London, New Hampshire, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Mechanotransduction in Heart Development and Regeneration (Brown University)

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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