Muscle Cell News Volume 5.05 | Feb 10 2020

TOP STORY

Muscle‐Derived GDF15 Drives Diurnal Anorexia and Systemic Metabolic Remodeling during Mitochondrial Stress

To test the hypothesis that growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is fundamental to the metabolic stress response during mitochondrial dysfunction, scientists investigated transgenic mice (Ucp1‐TG) with compromised muscle‐specific mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity via respiratory uncoupling. Ucp1‐TG mice showed a skeletal muscle‐specific induction and diurnal variation of GDF15 as a myokine. [EMBO J] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Tissue-Specific Promoter-Based Reporter System for Monitoring Cell Differentiation from iPSCs to Cardiomyocytes

Differentiated and contracting control cardiomyocytes were transduced with troponin 2-luc-T2A-Puro-CMV-GFP and hACTC-mcherry-WPRE-EF1-Neo lentiviruses to observe the functionality of obtained cardiomyocytes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Drp1 Overexpression Induces Desmin Disassembling and Drives Kinesin-1 Activation Promoting Mitochondrial Trafficking in Skeletal Muscle

In a murine model overexpressing Drp1 specifically in skeletal muscle, researchers found marked mitochondria repositioning in muscle fibres and they demonstrated that Drp1 was involved in this process. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Heterogeneity of Satellite Cells Implicates DELTA1/NOTCH2 Signaling in Self-Renewal

The authors revealed that differentiating cells expressed the Dll1 ligand. Using antagonistic antibodies, they demonstrated that the DLL1 and NOTCH2 signaling pair was required for satellite cell self-renewal. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

TCP11L2 Promotes Bovine Skeletal Muscle‐Derived Satellite Cell Migration and Differentiation via FMNL2

Scientists showed that T‐complex 11 like 2 (TCP11L2) expression gradually increased during muscle‐derived satellite cell (MDSC) differentiation in vitro, reaching a peak on day three, which is the migration and fusion stage of MDSCs. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Circ-calm4 Serves as an miR-337-3p Sponge to Regulate Myo10 (Myosin 10) and Promote Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Proliferation

Investigators aimed to identify functional circular RNAs and clarify their roles and mechanisms in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation in pulmonary hypertension. [Hypertension] Abstract

Co‐Culture of Human Fibroblasts, Smooth Muscle and Endothelial Cells Promotes Osteopontin Induction in Hypoxia

Three cell lines representing the cells of the three layers of the walls of arteries and veins, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, were tested in mono‐ and co‐culture in vitro for osteopontin expression and secretion in normoxia compared to hypoxia after silencing the hypoxia‐inducible factors with siRNA or after treatment with an inhibitor of NF‐kB. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

ANO1, Ca_V1.2 and IP₃R Form a Functional Unit of Excitation-Contraction Coupling during Agonist-Mediated Contraction of Mouse Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle

Fluorescence imaging and biochemical techniques were used to examine the architecture of a PM/SR junctional microdomain comprising anoctamin 1 (ANO1), Ca _V1.2 and IP ₃R postulated to form a fundamental unit of EC-coupling in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells. [Biophys J] Abstract

Onvansertib, a Polo-Like Kinase 1 Inhibitor, Inhibits Prostate Stromal Cell Growth and Prostate Smooth Muscle Contraction, Which Is Additive to Inhibition by α₁-Blockers

Researchers examined effects of a novel and highly selective polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor, onvansertib, on prostate smooth muscle contraction alone and in combination with α1-blockers, and on proliferation and viability of prostate stromal cells. [Eur J Pharmacol] Abstract

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Extracellular Matrix News & ESC & iPSC News.

Cardiomyocyte Maturation: Advances in Knowledge and Implications for Regenerative Medicine

Despite considerable progress, scientists are still far from being able to generate pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with adult-like phenotypes in vitro. Future progress will come from identifying the developmental drivers of maturation and leveraging them to create more mature cardiomyocytes for research and regenerative medicine. [Nat Rev Cardiol] Abstract

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

Genentech’s Risdiplam Showed Significant Improvement in Motor Function in People Aged 2-25 With Type 2 or 3 Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Genentech presented one-year data from the pivotal Part 2 of SUNFISH, a global placebo-controlled study evaluating risdiplam in people aged 2-25 years with Type 2 or 3 spinal muscular atrophy. [Genentech, Inc.] Press Release

AskBio Initiates Phase I Trial of Gene Therapy for Heart Failure

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical and its subsidiary NanoCor Therapeutics have dosed the first patient in a Phase I clinical trial of gene therapy candidate NAN-101 to treat congestive heart failure. [Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (Verdict Media Limited)] Press Release

Trump’s 2021 Budget Drowns Science Agencies in Red Ink, Again

It’s another sea of red ink for federal research funding programs in President Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal. The 2021 budget request to Congress released February 10^th calls for deep, often double-digit cuts to R&D spending at major science agencies. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Major Cancer Institute Sued by Its Own Researchers Over ‘Tapering’ Funding

Alleging that a leading cancer funder is slashing their support in an “unethical and reckless” way, six prominent cancer researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have filed a lawsuit to compel it to continue its current level of support. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Diverse Organisms and Common Mechanisms in Cell-Cell Fusion
May 31-June 5, 2020
Easton, Massachusetts, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuromuscular Disease (Johns Hopkins Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Characterization of Novel Molecular Targets for Treatment of Atherosclerosis (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Biology (Augusta University)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Smooth Muscle and Endothelial Cell Ion Channels (University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

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)

PhD Student – Aortic Disease (University Hospital of Cologne)

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Muscle Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.