Muscle Cell News Volume 5.14 | Apr 20 2020

TOP STORY

Chronic Activation of Hexosamine Biosynthesis in the Heart Triggers Pathological Cardiac Remodeling

Researchers showed that the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) was induced in cardiomyocytes during hypertrophic growth. Overexpression of glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase 1, the rate-limiting enzyme of HBP, promoted cardiomyocyte growth. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

Gon4l/Udu Regulates Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Maintenance of Ventricular Chamber Identity during Zebrafish Development

Researchers report two distinct roles of Gon4-like (Gon4l)/ugly duckling (Udu) in heart development: regulation of cell proliferation and maintenance of ventricular identity. They showed that zygotic loss of udu expression caused a significant reduction in cardiomyocyte number at one day post fertilization that became exacerbated during later development. [Dev Biol] Abstract

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Myosin Heavy Chain-Embryonic Regulates Skeletal Muscle Differentiation during Mammalian Development

The authors characterized the role of myosin heavy chain-embryonic (MyHC-emb) during mammalian development using targeted mouse alleles. Germline loss of MyHC-emb led to neonatal and postnatal alterations in muscle fiber size, fiber number, fiber type and misregulation of genes involved in muscle differentiation. [Development] Abstract

mTORC1-Mediated Satellite Cell Differentiation Is Required for Lysine-Induced Skeletal Muscle Growth

The number of differentiated satellite cells (SCs) in the longissimus thoracis muscle and the fusion index of SCs were both governed by lysine supplementation. The myogenic regulatory factors and the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway showed the same tendencies of changes as the differentiation of SCs. [J Agric Food Chem] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Bypassing Mitochondrial Complex III Using Alternative Oxidase Inhibits Acute Pulmonary Oxygen Sensing

Respiratory restoration by AOX prevented acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and hypoxic responses of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, acute hypoxia-induced redox changes of NADH and cytochrome c, and superoxide production. [Sci Adv] Full Article

YAP1, Targeted by miR-375, Enhanced the Pro-Angiogenesis of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells in Asthma via STAT3 Activation

Investigators used cytokine-stimulated airway smooth muscle cells as asthma cell model in vitro. The results showed a significant up-regulation of YAP1 in asthmatic airway smooth muscle tissue and cytokine-stimulated asthmatic cell model by Western blot. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Icotinib Attenuates Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension by Preventing Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction

In vitro, icotinib suppressed epidermal growth factor (EGF)- induced pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation and migration. Icotinib inhibited EGF-induced down-regulation of α-SMA and SM22α and up-regulation of osteopontin and collagen I in PASMCs [Am J Hypertens] Abstract

CircRNA‐0077930 from Hyperglycaemia‐Stimulated Vascular Endothelial Cell Exosomes Regulates Senescence in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Scientists determined whether and how circRNA from human umbilical vein endothelial cell exosomes under high‐glucose conditions regulated the senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells. [Cell Biochem Funct] Abstract

Efficient Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation of iPS Cells on Curcumin-Incorporated Chitosan/Collagen/Polyvinyl-Alcohol Nanofibers

The expression level of smooth muscle cell-related genes, including alpha-smooth muscle actin, smooth muscle 22 alpha, Caldesmon1, and Calponin1in the stem cells upregulated while cultured in the presence of curcumin, but this increase was significantly improved while cells cultured on the nanofibers/curcumin. [In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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The Role of Drp1 in Mitophagy and Cell Death in the Heart

Scientists discuss the role of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) in mitophagy and apoptosis in the context of cardiac pathology, including myocardial ischemia and heart failure. [J Mol Cell Cardiol] Abstract

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Epirium Bio Receives FDA Orphan-Drug Designation for EB 002 ((+)-Epicatechin) for the Treatment of Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy

Epirium Bio Inc. announced that the FDA has granted orphan-drug designation for its unique, orally available, synthetic flavanol EB 002 ((+)-epicatechin) for the treatment of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. [Epirium Bio Inc.] Press Release

FDA Approves First Therapy for Children with Debilitating and Disfiguring Rare Disease

The FDA approved Koselugo for the treatment of pediatric patients, two years of age and older, with neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic disorder of the nervous system causing tumors to grow on nerves. [US Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

How Research Funders Are Tackling Coronavirus Disruption

While science is crucial to the fight against COVID-19, researchers confined to their homes and unable to carry on with grant-funded work are becoming increasingly concerned about how the coronavirus pandemic will affect their funding. [Nature News] Editorial

Ending Coronavirus Lockdowns Will Be a Dangerous Process of Trial and Error

After the novel coronavirus made its way from China around the world, one country after another adopted harsh measures to stop SARS-CoV-2 from spreading and overwhelming hospitals. They have hit the pause button on their economies and their citizens’ lives, stopping sports events, religious services, and other social gatherings. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Brain & Disease Research (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease (University of Iowa)

Professor – Molecular Physiology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Molecular Mechanisms in Heart Disease (The University of Arizona College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – NAD Metabolism in Heart Disease (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation)

Associate Professor – Cancer Biology (University of Cincinnati)

Group Leader – Cancer Biology (Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology)

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

Postdoctoral Researcher – Soft Tissue Biology (Mayo Clinic)

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

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

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