Muscle Cell News Volume 5.03 | Jan 27 2020

TOP STORY

Somatic Gene Editing Ameliorates Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Failure in Pig and Human Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

In induced pluripotent stem cell-derived myoblasts and cardiomyocytes of a patient lacking exon 52 of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, AAV6-Cas9-g51-mediated excision of exon 51 restored dystrophin expression and ameliorated skeletal myotube formation as well as abnormal cardiomyocyte Ca²⁺ handling and arrhythmogenic susceptibility. [Nat Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Targeting LncDACH1 Promotes Cardiac Repair and Regeneration after Myocardium Infarction

Protein phosphatase 1 catalytic subunit alpha (PP1A) siRNA or pharmacological blockers of PP1A abrogated cardiomyocyte mitosis induced by LncDACH1 silencing. LncDACH1 enhanced yes-associated protein 1 phosphorylation and reduced its nuclear translocation by binding PP1A. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Ameliorate Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis in Hypoxic Conditions through MicroRNA144 by Targeting the PTEN/AKT Pathway

Scientists explored how miRNA-144, a miRNA contained in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, exerted a cardioprotective effect on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the context of hypoxic conditions and identified the underlying mechanisms. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Notch1 Protects against Myocardial Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury via Regulating Mitochondrial Fusion and Function

The authors showed that Notch1 improved the cell viability and mitochondrial fusion in myocardiocytes exposed to ischemia‐reperfusion injury. These improvements were dependent on the regulation of MFN1 and DRP1. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

The Transcription Elongation Factor TCEA3 Induces Apoptosis in Rhabdomyosarcoma

Researchers found that TCEA3 expression was strongly inhibited in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell lines representing both ERMS and ARMS subtypes of RMS. TCEA3 expression correlated with DNA methylation and they showed that TBX2 was also involved in the repression of TCEA3 in RMS cell lines. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Expression and Functional Analysis of the Hydrogen Peroxide Biosensors HyPer and HyPer2 in C2C12 Myoblasts/Myotubes and Single Skeletal Muscle Fibres

Investigators developed and optimized approaches used to express the HyPer biosensor in different models of skeletal muscle cells, such as the C2C12 myoblast/myotube cell line and mature skeletal muscle fibres isolated from C57BL/6J mice, and measured intracellular hydrogen peroxide in real time in these cells. [Sci Rep] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Vascular Smooth Muscle TRPC3 Channels Facilitate the Inverse Hemodynamic Response during Status Epilepticus

Scientists hypothesized that cerebrovascular transient receptor potential 3 (TRPC3) channels may contribute to seizure-induced inverse hemodynamic response. To examine this possibility, they developed a smooth muscle-specific TRPC3 knockout mouse. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cigarette Smoke Extract Induces Ferroptosis in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Researchers investigated the mechanism by which cigarette smoke affects vascular wall cells and found that cigarette smoke extract induced a novel form of regulated cell death termed ferroptosis in VSMCs. [Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol] Abstract

Tripartite Factors Leading to Molecular Divergence between Human and Murine Smooth Muscle

The authors gauged the conservation between human and mouse vascular smooth muscle cell proteins mined from an analysis of the Human Protein Atlas. [PLoS One] Full Article

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In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Methods for assessment of Muscle Size and Muscle Growth Regulation

The authors summarize techniques and methods to assess and manipulate muscle size and muscle mass in experimental systems, including cell culture and rodent models. [Shock] Abstract

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

Ncardia and BlueRock Therapeutics Announce Collaboration Agreement and Licensing of Process Development Technologies for the Manufacture of iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Ncardia and BlueRock Therapeutics announced an agreement covering process development technologies for the manufacture of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes. Under the terms of the agreement, Bluerock gains access to Ncardia’s large-scale production processes and intellectual property for the production of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for therapeutic use. [Ncardia] Press Release

Clene Nanomedicine Announces Formal Acceptance of CNM-Au8 for HEALEY ALS Platform Trial as Center Receives FDA Approval to Proceed

Clene Nanomedicine, Inc. announced the receipt of formal acceptance from the FDA to proceed with its CNM-Au8 as one of the first three drug regimens in the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial being conducted by the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital. [Clene Nanomedicine, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Brazil’s Pick of a Creationist to Lead Its Higher Education Agency Rattles Scientists

The appointment of a creationism advocate to lead the agency that oversees Brazil’s graduate study programs has scientists there concerned-yet again-about the encroachment of religion on science and education policy. President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration on Saturday January 25^th named Benedito Guimarães Aguiar Neto to head the agency, known as CAPES, who previously served as the rector for a private religious school which advocates the teaching and study of intelligent design. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

US Officials Revisit Rules for Disclosing Risky Disease Experiments

US disease researchers are pushing the government to be more transparent about federally funded research that involves making pathogens more deadly or more transmissible. Several disease researchers who attended a recent meeting to discuss transparency around such studies say the US government should offer a public explanation when it approves such ‘gain-of-function’ experiments, disclose who made the decision to fund them and make a broad public announcement when a study begins. [Nature News] Editorial

Wuhan Scientists: What It’s Like to Be on Lockdown

Chinese authorities have closed off travel into and out of the virus-hit city of Wuhan in an attempt to stop the outbreak’s spread. Nature spoke to three researchers about what it’s like to be inside Wuhan right now – and talked to one who is trying to get back in. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cambridge International Stem Cell Symposium 2020
September 27-29, 2020
Cambridge, United Kingdom

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

NEW Academic Clinical Lecturer – Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Cardiology (University of Bristol)

Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Skeletal Muscle Cell Signaling (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Tissue Engineering and Regeneration (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Muscle Stem Cell Biology (State University of New York)

Doctoral Student – Biomedical Sciences (Linnaeus University)

PhD Student – Aortic Disease (University Hospital of Cologne)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Postdoctoral Scientist – Aortic Disease (University Hospital of Cologne)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Computation Systems and Skeletal Muscles (University of Luxembourg)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Muscle Stem Cell Biology (University at Albany)

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

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

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