Muscle Cell News Volume 4.33 | Sep 30 2019

TOP STORY

Simultaneous Measurement of Excitation-Contraction Coupling Parameters Identifies Mechanisms Underlying Contractile Responses of hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes

The authors designed and built a high-speed optical system to measure action potential, cytosolic calcium and contraction simultaneously using fluorescent sensors. These measurements were automatically processed, quantified and then assessed by the algorithm. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Targeting RyR Activity Boosts Antisense Exon 44 and 45 Skipping in Human DMD Skeletal or Cardiac Muscle Culture Models

Investigators demonstrated that dantrolene and Rycals^®, S107 and ARM210, potentiated antisense oligonucleotide (AO)-mediated exon skipping of exon 44 or exon 45 in patient-derived myotube cultures with appropriate mutations. Further, dantrolene was shown to boost AO-mediated exon skipping in patient-derived, induced cardiomyocyte cultures. [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

Gene Expression Profiling of Skeletal Myogenesis in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reveals a Potential Cascade of Transcription Factors Regulating Stages of Myogenesis, including Quiescent/Activated Satellite Cell-Like Gene Expression

Gene expression profiling was analyzed in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) over a 50 day skeletal myogenesis protocol and compared to datasets of other hESC-derived skeletal muscle and adult murine satellite cells. Furthermore, day two cultures differentiated with high or lower concentrations of CHIR99021, a GSK3A/GSK3B inhibitor, were contrasted. [PLoS One] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Lnc9141 a and b Play a Different Role in Bovine Myoblast Proliferation, Apoptosis and Differentiation

The authors showed that lnc9141-a or lnc9141-b overexpression decreased the number of myoblasts in the S phase, and increased the proportion of cells in the G₀/G₁ phase. Furthermore, overexpressing lnc9141-a and lnc9141-b respectively down-regulated the expression of Cyclin D1. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article

Characterization of C2C12 Cells in Simulated Microgravity: Possible Use for Myoblast Regeneration

Scientists exposed C2C12 cells in a random position machine to simulate microgravity and study the energy and the biochemical challenges associated with this treatment. Simulated microgravity exposed C2C12 cells maintained positive proliferation indices and delayed the differentiation process for several days. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Ibuprofen Inhibited Migration of Skeletal Muscle Cells in Association with Downregulation of p130cas and CrkII Expressions

Skeletal muscle cells isolated from the gastrocnemius muscles of Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with ibuprofen. MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability, and cell apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay, after ibuprofen treatment. Skeletal muscle cell migration and spreading were evaluated using the transwell filter migration assay and F-actin staining, respectively. [Skelet Muscle] Full Article

Muscle Stem Cell Renewal Suppressed by GAS1 Can Be Reversed by GDNF in Mice

Researchers showed that in mice that growth arrest-specific gene 1 (Gas1) was expressed in a small subset of young muscle stem cells (MuSCs), with its expression progressively increasing in larger fractions of MuSCs later in life. Overexpression of Gas1 in young MuSCs and inactivation of Gas1 in aged MuSCs supported that Gas1 reduced the quiescence and self-renewal capacity of MuSCs. [Nat Metab] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Myogenic Vasoconstriction Requires G₁₂/G₁₃ and LARG to Maintain Local and Systemic Vascular Resistance

Scientists showed that small arteries from mice with smooth muscle-specific loss of G₁₂/G₁₃ or the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor ARHGEF12 had lost myogenic vasoconstriction. This defect was accompanied by loss of RhoA activation, while vessels showed normal increases in intracellular Ca²⁺. [eLife] Abstract

Human Primary Endothelial Cells Are Impaired in Nucleotide Excision Repair and Sensitive to Benzo[a]pyrene Compared with Smooth Muscle Cells and Pericytes

Primary human endothelial cells (HUVEC), primary human smooth muscle cells (HUASMC) and primary human pericytes (HPC) were treated with BPDE, and analyses of cytotoxicity, cellular senescence and genotoxic effects were then performed. The results showed that HUVEC were more sensitive to the cytotoxic activity of BPDE than HUASMC and HPC. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Zebrafish Heart Regeneration: Factors That Stimulate Cardiomyocyte Proliferation

The authors discuss the history of zebrafish cardiac regeneration and highlight how different models reveal the molecular pathways important in driving cardiomyocyte proliferation after injury. Understanding the molecules that regulate cell cycle re-entry can provide insights into promoting cardiac repair in humans. [Semin Cell Dev Biol] Abstract

Myocardial Regeneration: Role of Epicardium and Implicated Genes

Investigators review the role of the epicardium in myocardial regeneration focusing on activation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and differentiation. In addition, they discuss its contributory role to different aspects that support myocardial regeneration. [Mol Biol Rep] Abstract

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

Intra-Cellular Therapies Announces Progression to Higher Dose Cohort in ITI-214 Translational Medicine Study in Patients with Heart Failure

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. announced the successful completion of the second dose cohort in study ITI-214-104, a proof-of-mechanism, translational medicine study of ITI-214, a novel phosphodiesterase-1 inhibitor, in patients with chronic heart failure. Clinical conduct of the third and last cohort, 90 mg, is now ongoing following review of safety and tolerability data from the 30 mg dose cohort, where no safety concerns were identified. [Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.] Press Release

Capricor Therapeutics to Meet with FDA to Discuss CAP-1002 to Treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Capricor Therapeutics announced that it has been granted a Type B End-of-Phase II meeting with the FDA to discuss prespecified interim analysis of the company’s HOPE 2 clinical trial, which was reported in July of 2019. [Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Ipsen Announces FDA Approval of Dysport^® (abobotulinumtoxinA) for the Treatment of Upper Limb Spasticity in Children, excluding Cerebral Palsy

Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has expanded the use of Dysport^® for injection to include the treatment of upper limb spasticity in children two years of age and older, excluding spasticity caused by cerebral palsy. [Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

NIH Reveals Its Formula for Tracking Foreign Influences

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) thinks it may have figured out how China’s foreign talents recruitment program is undermining its system for making awards and ensuring ethical behavior by its grantees. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Situation Improves Slightly for U Alaska, Major Changes Ahead

Funding cuts provoke concerns about job losses, canceled research programs, and closed departments. [The Scientist] Editorial

Science in India’s Kashmir Valley in Jeopardy

The country’s government has imposed a communication blackout on Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost region in India, effectively cutting off scientists and students from the rest of the world. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Linking Cells, the Cytoskeleton and the Nucleus in Mechanobiology, Aging and Disease
June 7-12, 2020
West Dover, Vermont, United States

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

NEW Scientific Associate – Cardiac Cell Therapy (Avery Therapeutics)

Research Scientist – Metabolic & Muscle Diseases (Regeneron)

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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