Add BrightSurf on Google Email

What controls blood flow in the brain?

New research reveals that smooth muscle cells surrounding brain blood vessels regulate blood flow in response to neuronal activity. The study contradicts previous theories on pericytes' role in blood vessel formation and function.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateJun 25, 2015

In a heartbeat

A new theoretical model proposes that heart muscle cells don't necessarily beat as a single entity, but rather as a bundle of contractile units. The alignment of these bundles is predicted to depend on the elasticity of the extracellular matrix and can affect the beating strength of the cell.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 3, 2015

Scientists grow leg muscle from cells in a dish

Researchers successfully generated mature, functional skeletal muscles in mice by growing cells in a dish and implanting the graft near a normal muscle. This breakthrough could lead to treatments for various muscle disorders, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

SourceEMBO·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·DateFeb 25, 2015

Researchers discover a key to making new muscles

Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have developed a novel technique to promote tissue repair in damaged muscles. Cyclic bursts of a STAT3 inhibitor can replenish muscle stem cells, leading to their differentiation into muscle fibers, which could provide a new therapeutic approach to treating muscle diseases.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Medicine·DateSep 7, 2014

Racing the clock to help young patients with old hearts

A study by University of Maryland researchers has identified a toxic protein that damages muscle cells inside the arteries of children with progeria, a rare genetic disorder. The discovery may help explain how cardiovascular disease develops in people aging normally and could lead to new treatments for the condition.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

Self-healing engineered muscle grown in the laboratory

Researchers at Duke University have successfully grown lab-grown muscle that demonstrates self-healing properties, integrating into mice quickly and contracting powerfully. The breakthrough, led by Nenad Bursac, uses well-developed contractile muscle fibers and satellite cells to create a microenvironment for regeneration.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 31, 2014

Baby hearts need rhythm to develop correctly

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that mechanical forces generated by the rhythmic expansion and contraction of cardiac muscle cells play an active role in the initial stage of heart valve formation. This study provides a new perspective on the process, shedding light on how to create artificial heart valves.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalBiomaterials·DateFeb 18, 2014

New method increases supply of embryonic stem cells

A new method allows for large-scale generation of high-quality human embryonic stem cells from excess IVF embryos, increasing the supply for potential therapies. This breakthrough method enables production of stem cells without destroying embryos, making it a significant step forward for stem cell research.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 27, 2014

A step closer to muscle regeneration

Researchers at Monash University have isolated muscle precursor cells from pluripotent stem cells using a purification technique, allowing them to differentiate into muscle cells. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for degenerative diseases such as Muscular Dystrophy and Parkinson's disease.

SourceMonash University·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateDec 9, 2013

Packaging stem cells in capsules for heart therapy

Cardiology researchers at Emory have developed a solution to improve the impact of stem cell therapy on heart function. By packaging mesenchymal stem cells in alginate capsules, they can increase cell retention and survival, promoting healing factors that encourage regeneration of blood vessels.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateOct 11, 2013

Genotype influences muscle performance

Research reveals how genetic mutations in α-actinin-3 affect fast-twitch muscles, leading to increased endurance capacity and enhanced response to training. The study provides insight into the skeletal muscle adaptations advantageous to elite endurance athletes.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 16, 2013

Cells make costume changes for cardiac regeneration

Scientists have identified a novel mechanism of cardiac regeneration in zebrafish, where muscle cells from the atrium actively migrate into damaged parts of the heart muscle in the ventricle. This process, known as transdifferentiation, results in the formation of new ventricular tissue and restoration of cardiac function.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateJul 11, 2013