Muscle Cell News Volume 5.06 | Feb 24 2020

TOP STORY

Chronic mTOR Activation Induces a Degradative Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype

Scientists investigated the effects of smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in aortic media by conditional disruption of Tsc1, which hyperactivated mTOR complex 1. Consequent SMC hyperplasia led to progressive medial degeneration and thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

REEP5 Depletion Causes Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Vacuolization and Cardiac Functional Defects

Researchers report a cardiac enriched, sarco-endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) membrane protein, REEP5, that was centrally involved in regulating SR/ER organization and cellular stress responses in cardiac myocytes. In vitro REEP5 depletion in mouse cardiac myocytes resulted in SR/ER membrane destabilization and luminal vacuolization along with decreased myocyte contractility and disrupted Ca²⁺ cycling. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Functional Heterogeneity within the Developing Zebrafish Epicardium

The authors investigated epicardial heterogeneity and the functional diversity of discrete epicardial subpopulations in the developing zebrafish heart. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered three epicardial subpopulations with specific genetic programs and distinctive spatial distribution. [Dev Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Fisetin Protects against Cardiac Cell Death through Reduction of ROS Production and Caspases Activity

Investigators mined the data and performed a deep in silico analysis to identify drugs highly likely to induce cardiac regeneration. Fisetin was identified as the top candidate. They validated its effects in an in vitro model of myocardial infarction/ischemia reperfusion injury in mammalian cardiac cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Neural Cell Integration into 3D Bioprinted Skeletal Muscle Constructs Accelerates Restoration of Muscle Function

Researchers showed that bioprinted human skeletal muscle constructs were able to form multi-layered bundles with aligned myofibers. They investigated the effects of neural cell integration into the bioprinted skeletal muscle construct to accelerate functional muscle regeneration in vivo. [Nat Commun] Full Article

The Phosphatidylcholine Transfer Protein StarD7 Is Important for Myogenic Differentiation in Mouse Myoblast C2C12 Cells and Human Primary Skeletal Myoblasts

The authors studied the role of StarD7 in skeletal myoblast differentiation using mouse myoblast C2C12 cells and human primary myoblasts. Immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy revealed that StarD7 was distributed in the cytosol, inner mitochondria space, and outer leaflet of the outer mitochondrial membrane in C2C12 cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

An Optimized Procedure for Isolation of Rodent and Human Skeletal Muscle Sarcoplasmic and Myofibrillar Proteins

Scientists performed several previously published myofibrillar (MF) isolation methods with the intent of determining which method was most suitable for MF protein isolation and solubilization. They provide an optimized protocol to isolate sarcoplasmic and solubilized MF protein fractions from mammalian skeletal muscle suitable for several downstream assays. [J Biol Methods] Abstract | Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

A Novel STAT3 Inhibitor Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Progression in Mice through Modulating Vascular Inflammation and Autophagy

BP-1-102 markedly decreased abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) incidence and aortic diameter, maintained elastin structure and volume, reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and MMPs, and inhibited inflammatory cells infiltration. Moreover, BP-1-102 dramatically reduced the expression of JAK2, p-STAT3, p-NF-κB, and Bcl-xL but maintained the expression of LC3B and Beclin in AAA tissues. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

M₃ Receptor Modulates Extracellular Matrix Synthesis via ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway in Human Bladder Smooth Muscle Cells

The synthesis of collagen 1 (COL1) in the supernatant of cell culture medium was significantly elevated by exposure to carbachol (CCH). The CCH-induced protein expression of COL1, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, however, was obviously reduced by the pretreatment of muscarinic receptor antagonists, atropine, and M₃-preferring antagonist (1,1-dimethyl-4-diphenyl-acetoxypiperidinium iodide). [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

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HIF-Hypoxia Signaling in Skeletal Muscle Physiology and Fibrosis

The authors review evidence that supports the idea that hypoxia and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor α (HIF-1α) can contribute to the establishment of fibrosis in skeletal muscle through its crosstalk with other pro-fibrotic factors, such as transforming growth factor β, the induction of profibrotic cytokines expression, as is the case of connective tissue growth factor, or being the target of the renin-angiotensin system. [J Cell Commun Signal] Abstract

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

Kowa Achieves Goal of Randomizing 10,000 Patients into Landmark “PROMINENT” Cardiovascular Outcomes Study of K-877 (Pemafibrate)

Kowa Research Institute, Inc. announced the achievement of its goal to randomize 10,000 subjects into its international, multicenter Phase III cardiovascular outcomes trial titled “Pemafibrate to Reduce cardiovascular OutcoMes by reducing triglycerides IN patiENts with diabeTes” (PROMINENT). [Kowa Research Institute, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Alnylam Completes Enrollment of HELIOS-A Phase III Study of Vutrisiran for the Treatment of hATTR Amyloidosis with Polyneuropathy

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has achieved full enrollment in its HELIOS-A Phase III study of vutrisiran, an investigational RNAi therapeutic in development for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis. The study was designed to enroll 160 patients with hereditary ATTR (hATTR) amyloidosis with polyneuropathy across 68 sites in 22 countries. [Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Has the UK Science Minister Been Demoted?

A government reshuffle in the United Kingdom has born another new science minister – a position that has seen a revolving door of appointees, firings and resignations in recent years. The latest appointment also comes with an apparent political demotion for the role, which expert observers say is in conflict with a government that appears to have put research and innovation at the heart of its agenda. [Nature News] Editorial

NIH Hosts Nonhuman Primate Workshop amidst Increased Scrutiny of Monkey Research

More than three years after it hosted a workshop on the science and ethics of biomedical studies on monkeys, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) this week convened another workshop on nonhuman primate research. And much like the previous event, the meeting is drawing sharply divergent reactions from biomedical and animal advocacy groups. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Animal Welfare Records Return to USDA Website

On February 18, the US Department of Agriculture replaced on its website the animal welfare records that the agency had removed in early 2017 and added records that had been generated since, as ordered by Congress, The Washington Post reports. These documents, unredacted and searchable, include thousands of reports from unannounced inspections at research labs as well as zoos, circuses, dog breeders, and other facilities. [The Scientist] Editorial

White House Formally Invites Public Comment on Open-Access Policies

The White House issued a notice seeking comment on its effort to enhance public access to federally funded research. It’s an old idea creating new controversy. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Kelvin Droegemeier is pushing back against publishers that in December said the administration was quietly pursuing an executive order to require immediate free distribution of taxpayer funded research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW ISSCR: Advances in Stem Cell Research: From Single Cells to Organs
October 12-14, 2020
Paris, France

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Soft Tissue Biology (Mayo Clinic)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuromuscular Disease (Johns Hopkins Medicine)

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)

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

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