Volume 3.15 | Apr 30 Muscle Cell News 3.15 April 30, 2018 In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Science News | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs TOP STORY Topological Arrangement of Cardiac Fibroblasts Regulates Cellular Plasticity The authors investigated how changes in topological states of cardiac fibroblasts affect cellular phenotype. Using two and three-dimensional culture conditions, they showed that simple aggregation of cardiac fibroblasts was sufficient by itself to induce genome wide changes in gene expression and chromatin remodeling. [Circ Res] Abstract PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS Unraveling the Inconsistencies of Cardiac Differentiation Efficiency Induced by the GSK3β Inhibitor CHIR99021 in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Researchers analyzed the differentiation process of multiple human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) lines in response to dynamic GSK3β glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) inhibition under varying cell culture conditions. hPSCs showed strong differences in cell-cycle profiles with varying culture confluency. hPSCs with a higher percentage of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle exhibited cell death and required lower doses of GSK3β inhibitors to induce cardiac differentiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article Stage-Specific Effects of Bioactive Lipids on Human iPSC Cardiac Differentiation and Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Scientists showed that the combined sphingosine-1-phosphate and lysophosphatidic acid treatment of undifferentiated human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes resulted in increased nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, the canonical Wnt signaling pathway mediator, and synergized with CHIR99021, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta inhibitor, to enhance mesodermal induction and subsequent cardiac differentiation. [Sci Rep] Full Article Yes-Associated Protein Mediates Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Proliferation: Involvement of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling Investigators revealed that the yes-associated protein (YAP) plays a critical role in regulating cell proliferation in association with epidermal growth factor receptor in human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs). They showed that low-density culture significantly promotes the proliferation of hESC-CMs via YAP. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS Thyroid Hormone Transporters MCT8 and OATP1C1 Control Skeletal Muscle Regeneration Analysis of tissue thyroid hormone (TH) content and expression of TH-regulated genes indicate a thyrotoxic state in Mct8-deficient skeletal muscles. Both TH transporters were upregulated in activated satellite cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article Engineering Vascularized Skeletal Muscle Tissue with Transcriptional Factor ETV2-Induced Autologous Endothelial Cells Scientists compared capacity of several human cell types to be induced to express endothelial genes by ets variant 2 (ETV2) and showed that human skeletal muscle cells are highly amendable for this endothelial induction. [Protein Cell] Abstract Premyogenic Progenitors Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Expand in Floating Culture and Differentiate into Transplantable Myogenic Progenitors To reliably obtain skeletal muscle progenitors from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), researchers treated human iPS cells with a Wnt activator, CHIR-99021 and a BMP receptor inhibitor, LDN-193189, and then induced skeletal muscle cells using a previously reported sphere-based culture. [Sci Rep] Full Article Loss of Myogenic Potential and Fusion Capacity of Muscle Stem Cells Isolated from Contractured Muscle in Children with Cerebral Palsy The authors demonstrated that muscle contractures in cerebral palsy are associated with loss of satellite cell myogenic potential that is dependent on DNA methylation patterns affecting expression of genetic programs associated with muscle stem cell differentiation and muscle fiber formation. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Abstract SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS Cell Autonomous and Non-Cell Autonomous Regulation of SMC Progenitors in Pulmonary Hypertension Researchers demonstrated primed platelet-derived growth factor receptor β+ (PDGFR-β+)/smooth muscle cell (SMC) marker+ progenitors at the muscular-unmuscular arteriole border in the normal lung, and in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, a single primed cell migrates distally and expands clonally, giving rise to most of the pathological smooth muscle coating of small arterioles. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Editorial | Graphical Abstract Adropin Contributes to Anti-Atherosclerosis by Suppressing Monocyte-Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation Scientists assessed the effects of adropin on inflammatory molecule expression and human THP1 monocyte adhesion in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, foam cell formation in THP1 monocyte-derived macrophages, and the migration and proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cells in vitro and atherogenesis in Apoe-/- mice in vivo. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article MicroRNA Expression Profile and Functional Analysis Reveal Their Roles in Contact Inhibition and Its Disruption Switch of Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Investigators showed that multiple miRNAs are differentially expressed in contact-inhibited vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and in non-contact-inhibited VSMCs. Among them, miR-145 is a critical gene in contact inhibition and its disruption of VSMCs. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract REVIEWS Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation as a Therapeutic Target. Part 1: Molecular Targets and Pathways The authors recapitulate the importance of signaling cascades relevant for the regulation of vascular cell proliferation. Detailed understanding of the process underlying this process is essential for the identification of new lead compounds for vascular therapies. [Biotechnol Adv] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field. SCIENCE NEWS Human Muscle Progenitor Cells Ectopically Expressing Neurotrophic Factors to Enhance Intrinsic Neuronal Regeneration Stem Cell Medicine Ltd. will present the results of a study titled “Human Muscle Progenitor Cells Ectopically Expressing Neurotrophic Factors Enhance Intrinsic Neuronal Regeneration in a Sciatic Nerve Injury Mouse Model”. [Press release from Stem Cell Medicine Ltd. discussing research to be presented at the 2018 International Society of Cell Therapy Annual Meeting, Montreal] Press Release. The funding agreement will accelerate the Vancouver company’s rapidly scaling business of providing cutting-edge reagents and tools to support life science researchers around the world working in the cell therapy and regenerative medicine fields. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release Cedars-Sinai and Stanford Children’s Health Collaborate on Heart Care Physicians from Cedars-Sinai and Stanford Children’s Health are teaming up to offer the newest treatments and surgical techniques to patients born with heart defects. [Cedars-Sinai] Press Release First Functional Stem-Cell Derived Neuromuscular Junction Model Licensed Hesperos, Inc. has increased its pioneering human-on-a-chip drug testing capabilities by adding a new in vitro, human-human neuromuscular model to its patented multi-organ microfluidic device systems. [Hesperos, Inc.] Press Release. [Neuraltus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release Capricor Announces Initiation of HOPE-2 Clinical Trial of CAP-1002 for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has initiated the HOPE-2 clinical trial at University of California Davis Medical Center. The trial will test the safety and efficacy of Capricor’s novel cellular therapy, CAP-1002, in boys and young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release POLICY NEWS Disgraced Surgeon Is Still Publishing on Stem Cell Therapies Paolo Macchiarini, an Italian surgeon, has been fired from two institutions and faces the retraction of many of his papers after findings of scientific misconduct and ethical lapses in his research—yet this hasn’t prevented him from publishing again in a peer-reviewed journal. [ScienceInsider] Editorial EVENTS NEW Goodbye Flat Biology: In Vivo Inspired Cancer Biology and Therapy September 9-12, 2018 Berlin, Germany Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community. JOB OPPORTUNITIES NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Cardiovascular Stem Cell/iPSC Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago) Assistant/Associate Professor – Medicine and Systems Biology (Columbia University Medical Center) Director – Center for Cardiovascular Biology (University of Washington Medical Center) Faculty – Heart Regeneration and Therapeutics (University of Pittsburgh) Fellowship – Differentiation and Applications of Cardiomyocytes (Emory University) Postdoctoral Fellow – Smooth Muscle Cells (University of Colorado) Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Director – Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute (Boston