Muscle Cell News Volume 5.10 | Mar 23 2020

TOP STORY

Loss of Insulin Signaling May Contribute to Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Electrical Remodeling in Type 1 Diabetes

Scientists investigated atrial fibrillation susceptibility and atrial electrophysiology in type 1 diabetic Akita mice using in vivo intracardiac electrophysiology, high-resolution optical mapping in atrial preparations, and patch clamping in isolated atrial myocytes. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Effect of Substrate Stiffness on Redox State of Single Cardiomyocyte: A Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy Study

Researchers used polyacrylamide gels with varying stiffness as the substrate to construct a mechanical microenvironment for cardiomyocytes. [Anal Chem] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Rhein, a Novel Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibitor with Antifibrotic Potency in Human Myocardial Fibrosis

The anthraquinone Rhein was examined for its anti-fibrotic potency to mitigate cardiac fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition. Primary human ventricular cardiac fibroblasts were subjected to hypoxia and characterized with proteomics, transcriptomics and cell functional techniques. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Palmitate Induces Cardiomyocyte Death via Inositol Requiring Enzyme-1 (IRE1)-Mediated Signaling Independent of X-Box Binding Protein 1 (XBP1)

Palmitate-induced cardiomyocyte death was induced in Toll-like receptor 2/4 double-knockdown cardiomyocytes to a similar extent as wild-type cardiomyocytes, while cardiomyocyte death was canceled out by triacsin C, a long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase inhibitor. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Full Article

LncRNA CYTOR Attenuates Sepsis-Induced Myocardial Injury via Regulating miR-24/XIAP

The sepsis-induced myocardial injury model in mice was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS in vivo, and cardiomyocyte H9c2 was treated with LPS to mimic sepsis in vitro. [Cell Biochem Funct] Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Aging Induces Aberrant State Transition Kinetics in Murine Muscle Stem Cells

Investigators used timelapse imaging and single cell RNA-seq to measure activation trajectories and rates in young and aged muscle stem cells. They found that the activation trajectory was conserved in aged cells, and developed effective machine learning classifiers for cell age. [Development] Abstract | Full Article

Irisin Counteracts High Glucose and Fatty Acid Induced Cytotoxicity by Preserving AMPK-Insulin Receptor Signaling Axis in C2C12 Myoblast

Scientists determined the effect of irisin on high glucose and fatty acid induced damages using irisin overexpressed mouse C2C12 myoblast and skeletal muscle from irisin-injected mice. As compared to empty vector transfected control, irisin overexpression resulted in a marked increase of cell viability and decrease of apoptosis under high glucose stress. [Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab] Abstract

Divergent Effects of Myogenic Differentiation and Diabetes on the Capacity for Muscle Precursor Cell Adipogenic Differentiation in a Fibrin Matrix

The capacity for muscle precursor cell (MPC) adipogenic differentiation in a 3-D environment was investigated in fibrin hydrogels by treating MPCs derived from healthy or diabetic animals with adipogenic induction medias that differed in their ability to increase lipid accumulation and activate the expression of genes associated with adipogenic differentiation. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Temporal Dynamics and Heterogeneity of Cell Populations During Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Researchers used single-cell RNA-sequencing to uncover gene expression signatures of over 53,000 individual cells during skeletal muscle regeneration. Cells clustered into 25 populations and subpopulations, including a subpopulation of immune gene enriched myoblasts and subpopulations of fibro-adipogenic progenitors. [iScience] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Age Attenuates the T-Type Ca_V3.2-RyR Axis in Vascular Smooth Muscle

Using smooth muscle cells from mouse mesenteric arteries, investigators found that both Ca_v3.2 channel inhibition by Ni²⁺ and caveolae disruption by methyl-ß-cyclodextrin or genetic abolition of Eps15 homology domain-containing protein inhibited Ca²⁺ sparks in cells from young but not old mice. [Aging Cell] Full Article

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Controversies in TWEAK-Fn14 Signaling in Skeletal Muscle Atrophy and Regeneration

The authors propose both a physiological and pathological model of TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)-fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) signaling. Further research is needed on the switch between these states to develop therapeutic interventions for this pathway. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

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

Rising Research Star at Exeter Secures Prestigious Biochemical Society Award

Dr Kirsty Wan, a Research Fellow at the Living Systems Institute has received the Early Career Research Award from the Biochemical Society – one of just ten scientists and researchers nationwide to be honored in the annual award scheme. [University of Exeter] Press Release

Two Faculty Members Honored With ‘In the Company of Women’ Awards

Biochemist Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh, founding director of the Biomolecular Sciences Institute and the Translational Molecular Discoveries program, was given the Science and Technology Award; and Suzanna M. Rose, founding associate provost of the Office to Advance Women, Equity & Diversity, was given the Education and Research Award. [Florida International University] Press Release

Universities Urge US Leaders to Boost Science Budgets by 15%, Ease Rules to Cope with Pandemic

The US research community is urgently asking the White House and Congress to take steps aimed at keeping academic research—as well as museums, botanic gardens, and zoos—afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

US Primate Centers Work to Protect Animals from COVID-19

Like humans, monkeys are vulnerable to the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, although their symptoms are not entirely the same. This has opened up opportunities to study SARS-CoV-2, but has also meant facilities need to institute extensive precautions to prevent unintended contagion, particularly now as the researchers plan nonhuman primate experiments to aid in the development of coronavirus treatments and vaccines. [The Scientist] Editorial

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NEW New Group leader – Cancer Biology (Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology)

PhD Candidate – Muscle Research (Hannover Medical School)

Researcher – Smooth Muscle Cell Genes in Cardiovascular Disease (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Soft Tissue Biology (Mayo Clinic)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuromuscular Disease (Johns Hopkins Medicine)

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 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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