Muscle Cell News Volume 4.34 | Oct 7 2019

TOP STORY

Unbiased Proteomics Method to Assess the Maturation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Utilizing human pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes from early- and late-stage two-dimensional monolayer culture and three-dimensional engineered cardiac tissue, investigators demonstrated the high reproducibility and reliability of a top-down proteomics method, which enabled simultaneous quantification of contractile protein isoform expression and associated post-translational modifications. [Circ Res] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

TORC2-Gad8 Dependent Myosin Phosphorylation Modulates Regulation by Calcium

The authors defined a novel regulatory mechanism by which the motor activity and function of the fission yeast type 1 myosin, Myo1, was modulated by TORC2 signaling dependent phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of the conserved serine at position 742 within the neck region changes both the conformation of the neck region and the interactions between Myo1 and its associating calmodulin light chains. [eLife] Abstract

Inhibition of MicroRNA-327 Ameliorates Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury-Induced Cardiomyocytes Apoptosis through Targeting Apoptosis Repressor with Caspase Recruitment Domain

H9c2 cells were exposed to hypoxia for four hours and reoxygenation for 12 hours to mimic myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI) injury. miRNA-327 recombinant adenovirus vectors were transfected into H9c2 cells for 48 hours and rats for 72 hours before H/R and MI/RI treatment, respectively. The apoptosis rate, downstream molecules of apoptotic pathway, and the target reaction between miRNA-327 and aspase recruitment domain were evaluated. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Proteomic Characterization of Primary Cultured Myocytes in a Fish Model at Different Myogenesis Stages

Scientists identified the changes that occur in the proteome during myogenesis in a gilthead sea bream myocyte primary cell culture, using 2-D gel electrophoresis and LC-MS/MS. A significant increase of myogenin expression at day eight marked the transition from proliferation to differentiation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Aging Affects DNA Methylation Drift and Transcriptional Cell-to-Cell Variability in Mouse Muscle Stem Cells

Researchers present a single cell multi-omics study of mouse muscle stem cells, combining single-cell transcriptome and DNA methylome profiling. Aged cells showed a global increase of uncoordinated transcriptional heterogeneity biased towards genes regulating cell-niche interactions. [Nat Commun] Full Article

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

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

Nesprin-1-alpha2 Associates with Kinesin at Myotube Outer Nuclear Membranes, but Is Restricted to Neuromuscular Junction Nuclei in Adult Muscle

Using specific antibodies, researchers showed that both nesprin-1-alpha2 and nesprin-1-giant co-localized with kinesin at the junctions of concatenated nuclei and at the outer poles of nuclear chains in human skeletal myotubes. In adult muscle, nesprin-1-alpha2 was found, together with kinesin, only on nuclei associated with neuromuscular junctions, whereas all adult cardiomyocyte nuclei expressed nesprin-1-alpha2. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Smooth Muscle Differentiation of Penile Stem/Progenitor Cells Induced by Microenergy Acoustic Pulses In Vitro

Penile stem/progenitor cells PSPCs were isolated using the magnetic-activated cell sorting system. PSPC cellular differentiation was assessed after induction with induction medium and with microenergy acoustic pulse in vitro. Wnt/β-catenin signaling was also assayed. [J Sex Med] Abstract

Sauchinone Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Proliferation and Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Scientists evaluated the role of sauchinone in the angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vascular remodeling model in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The results showed that treatment of sauchinone inhibited Ang II-induced VSMCs proliferation and migration in VSMCs. [Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol] Abstract

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NADPH Oxidases and Oxidase Crosstalk in Cardiovascular Diseases: Novel Therapeutic Targets

The authors discuss the latest data on the pathobiology of each oxidase component, the complex crosstalk between different oxidase components and the consequences of this crosstalk in mediating cardiovascular disease processes, focusing on the central role of particular NADPH oxidase isoforms that are activated in specific cardiovascular diseases. [Nat Rev Cardiol] Abstract

Regulation of Cardiac Stem Cells by MicroRNAs: State-of-the-Art

Understanding the way through which miRNAs regulate cancer stem cell (CSC) behavior may open up new horizons in modulating these cells in vitro to devise sophisticated approaches for treating patients with cardiovascular diseases. In this review article, investigators tried to discuss available evidence about the role of miRNAs in regulating CSCs. [Biomed Pharmacother] Full Article

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Soleno Therapeutics Announces Positive Outcome from Second Planned Data Safety Monitoring Board Review of Phase III DESTINY PWS Clinical Trial of DCCR in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the Data Safety Monitoring Board has, for the second time, recommended the continuation without modification of the company’s Phase III trial in Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) patients, DESTINY PWS. The outcome of this second planned meeting was based on the review of data from more than 50% of patients enrolled and treated. [Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Announces the Phase III PolarisDMD Trial of Edasalonexent in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Has Exceeded Target Enrollment

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the completion of enrollment for the Phase III PolarisDMD trial of edasalonexent in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The target enrollment of 125 boys was exceeded due to strong interest from our 40 clinical sites in eight countries and the support of patient advocacy organizations. [Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Ra Pharmaceuticals Announces Dosing of First Patient in Global Phase III Pivotal Study of Zilucoplan for gMG

Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of dosing in the RAISE study, its global, pivotal, Phase III clinical trial evaluating zilucoplan for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). [Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Announces Last Patient Completes Last Study Visit in CENTAUR Phase II Study of AMX0035 in ALS

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the last participant has completed the planned 24 weeks of study treatment in CENTAUR, a clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of AMX0035 in people with ALS. [Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Sarepta Therapeutics Announces Positive Functional Results from the SRP-9003 (MYO-101) Gene Therapy Trial to Treat Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2E, or Beta-Sarcoglycanopathy

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. announced the nine-month functional results from three limb-girdle muscular dystrophy Type 2E (LGMD2E) clinical trial participants who received SRP-9003. SRP-9003 is an investigational gene therapy intended to transduce skeletal and cardiac muscle with a gene that codes for the full-length, native beta-sarcoglycan protein, the lack of which is the sole cause of LGMD2E. [Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Biologists Who Decoded How Cells Sense Oxygen Win Medicine Nobel

A trio of researchers has won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for describing how cells sense and respond to changing oxygen levels by switching genes on and off – a discovery that has been key in understanding human diseases such as cancer and anemia. [Nature News] Editorial

Split Decisions: How Brexit Has Taken a Toll on Five Researchers

On 23 June 2016, 34 million UK citizens took to the polls to vote on a simple, fateful question: Should the United Kingdom remain a part of the European Union, or should it leave? Nearly 52%—a majority of 1.3 million—wanted out, and conservative politicians vowed to carry out the people’s wishes. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Trump Set to Nominate Stephen Hahn as FDA Commissioner, Pending Vetting Process

President Trump is set to nominate Dr. Stephen Hahn to lead the FDA, pending completion of the vetting process, according to two people familiar with the selection process. Hahn, an oncologist, is the chief medical executive at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. [STAT News] 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 Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Muscle (Harvard Medical School)

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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