Muscle Cell News Volume 4.32 | Sep 23 2019

TOP STORY

Src Inhibition Attenuates Polyglutamine-Mediated Neuromuscular Degeneration in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy

Intraperitoneal administration of a Src kinase inhibitor improved the behavioral and histopathological phenotypes of the transgenic mice. The researchers identified p130Cas as an effector molecule of Src and showed that phosphorylated p130Cas was elevated in murine and cellular models of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. [Nat Commun] Full Article

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CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Long Noncoding RNA-Enriched Vesicles Secreted by Hypoxic Cardiomyocytes Drive Cardiac Fibrosis

LncRNA profiling identified two hypoxia-sensitive lncRNAs: ENSMUST00000122745 was predominantly found in small extracellular vesicles (EVs), whereas lncRNA Neat1 was enriched in large EVs in vitro and in vivo. Vesicles were taken up by fibroblasts, triggering expression of profibrotic genes. In addition, lncRNA Neat1 was transcriptionally regulated by P53 under basal conditions and by HIF2A during hypoxia. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article

Adipokines Disrupt Cardiac Differentiation and Cardiomyocyte Survival

Researchers isolated murine/human cardiac cells from adult hearts of control and obese mice/subjects and analyzed the communication between cardiac cells and adipocytes in vitro, as well as the effects on their main functions such as survival and differentiation. [Int J Obes] Abstract

FKBP52 Regulates TRPC3-Dependent Ca²⁺ Signals and the Hypertrophic Growth of Cardiomyocyte Cultures

FK506 binding protein 52 (FKBP52) was recovered from a cardiac cDNA library by a C-terminal TRPC3 fragment in a yeast two-hybrid screen. Downregulation of FKBP52 promoted a TRPC3-dependent hypertrophic response in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. [J Cell Sci] Abstract

Melatonin Attenuates ER Stress and Mitochondrial Damage in Septic Cardiomyopathy: A New Mechanism Involving BAP31 Upregulation and MAPK-ERK Pathway

Investigators explored the role of B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BAP31) in septic cardiomyopathy and figured out whether melatonin could attenuate sepsis-mediated myocardial depression via modulating BAP31. Lipopolysaccharide was used to establish the septic cardiomyopathy model. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

α1-AR Overactivation Induces Cardiac Inflammation through NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

Phenylephrine (PE) injection significantly increased the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and the cleavage of caspase-1 (p20) and interleukin-18 in the heart; similar results were observed in both Langendorff-perfused hearts and cultured cardiomyocytes following the treatment with PE. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

MLL1 Is Required for PAX7 Expression and Satellite Cell Self-Renewal in Mice

The authors report that in the absence of Mll1, myoblasts exhibited reduced H3K4me3 at both Pax7 and Myf5 promoters and reduced Pax7 and Myf5 expression. Mll1-deficient myoblasts failed to proliferate but retained their differentiation potential, while deletion of Mll2 had no discernable effect. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Skeletal Muscle Atrophy Was Alleviated by Salidroside through Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation during Denervation

Oxidative stress and inflammatory response were examined during myotube atrophy induced by nutrition deprivation. The results demonstrated that oxidative stress and inflammatory response were induced in cultured myotubes suffering from nutrition deprivation, and salidroside not only inhibited oxidative stress and inflammatory response but also attenuated nutrition deprivation-induced myotube atrophy, as evidenced by an increased myotube diameter. [Front Pharmacol] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Activation of TFEB Ameliorates Dedifferentiation of Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells and Neointima Formation in Mice with High-Fat Diet

Scientists surveyed the ability of transcription factor EB (TFEB) to regulate autophagy pathway in smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and whether pharmacological activation of TFEB favored SMC homeostasis preventing dedifferentiation and pathogenic vascular remodeling. In primary cultured SMCs, TFEB activator trehalose induced nuclear translocation of TFEB and upregulation of TFEB-controlled autophagy genes leading to enhanced autophagy signaling. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

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Role of Skeletal Muscle Autophagy in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity and Exercise

The authors examine the impact of high-fat-diet-induced obesity and exercise on skeletal muscle autophagy. Better understanding this major quality control mechanism may help develop novel therapies to combat high-fat-diet-induced obesity comorbidities. [Nutr Res] Full Article

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

Pacira BioSciences Completes Enrollment in Multicenter Registration Study of EXPAREL^® in Pediatric Patients

Pacira BioSciences, Inc. announced that it has reached full enrollment of its Phase III study of EXPAREL^® administered as a single-dose infiltration in pediatric patients aged six to less than 17 years undergoing spinal or cardiac surgeries. [Pacira BioSciences, Inc.] Press Release

Iogen Advances Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Clinical Research with New Study Evaluating a Higher Dose of Spinraza^® (Nusinersen) and Additional Data in a Broad Range of Patients

Building on the demonstrated long-term safety profile and proven efficacy of SPINRAZA in a broad range of patients, the DEVOTE trial will examine the potential for even greater efficacy, as well as the safety and tolerability of SPINRAZA, when administered at a higher dose. The trial is a Phase II/III randomized, controlled dose-escalating study that will be conducted at 50 sites around the world with a projected enrollment of 126 individuals with SMA of all ages, including adults. [Biogen, Inc.] Press Release

Ra Pharmaceuticals Announces Selection for the First ALS Platform Trial by the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General

Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the selection of zilucoplan as one of the first clinical candidates to be evaluated in a pioneering platform trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), led by the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General. The Healey Center has agreed to provide funding for the execution of the platform trial to support its goal of accelerating the development of effective treatments for patients with ALS. [Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Grad Student Unions Dealt Blow as Proposed New Rule Says Students Aren’t ‘Employees’

Graduate students are not “employees” with a right to unionize, according to a rule proposed today by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an agency that’s tasked with enforcing US labor laws. If implemented, the rule would undercut a recent wave of grad student unionization efforts at private US universities. The NLRB will be accepting public comment on the announcement for 60 days. [ScienceMagazine] Editorial

Kashmir’s Communication Blackout Is a ‘Devastating Blow’ for Academics, Researchers Say

Six professors from India’s top science institutions have appealed to the government to lift the blockade of academic and research institutions in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The blockade has been a “devastating blow,” the six write in an open letter published September 18^th. [ScienceMagazine] Editorial

New Journal Seeks Typically Overlooked Studies

On September 18, Cambridge University Press launched an open-access journal that will address issues in research by taking a different approach to publishing. The journal, Experimental Results, will include findings that have inconclusive or negative results and articles that reproduce or dispute existing research. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 2020 Muscle Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical and Scientific Conference
March 21-25, 2020
Orlando, Florida, United States

NEW International Conference on Skeletal Muscle Relaxants and Pain Management
May 21-22, 2020
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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

NEW Research Scientist – Metabolic & Muscle Diseases (Regeneron)

NEW Research Scientist – Gene Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders (Vertex Pharmaceuticals)

Researcher – Skeletal Muscle Mechanics and Energetics (University of California, Riverside)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Skeletal Muscle Aging and Proteostasis (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Senior Scientist – Small Molecule Therapeutics (Almac Group)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Molecular Mechanisms of Heart Failure (Boston University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Ion Channels in Vascular Smooth Muscle (The University of Tennessee)

Assistant Professor – Applied Cardiovascular Physiology (York University)

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

Research Scientist – Cellular Electrophysiology (Duke University)

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