We report cell-cell interaction studies utilizing a microfluidic chip capable of capturing cell pairs of different types into culture microwells and isolating the captured cells for a given amount of time using pneumatic valves. We have quantified the capture efficiency and confirmed cell viability and interaction in the microwells. We successfully distinguished interaction modes in the fabrica...

Stimulating integrin and growth factor signaling is a major goal to regulate cell-material interactions. This cover shows biomimetic peptide containing the RGD cell adhesive motif osteogenic DWIVA sequence anchored glass model substrate. work can be found in article number 2001757 by Carlos Mas-Moruno co-workers. Such functionalized surface fine-tuned behavior of C2C12 cells synergistic manner.

Sheppard RL, Spangenburg EE, Chin ER, Roth SM. Androgen receptor polyglutamine repeat length affects receptor activity and C2C12 cell development. Physiol Genomics 43: 1135–1143, 2011. First published August 9, 2011; doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00049.2011.—Testosterone (T) has an anabolic effect on skeletal muscle and is believed to exert its local effects via the androgen receptor (AR). The AR...

Expression of Wnt proteins is known to be important for developmental processes such as embryonic pattern formation and determination of cell fate. Previous studies have shown that Wn4 was involved in the myogenic fate of somites, in the myogenic proliferation, and differentiation of skeletal muscle. However, the function of this factor in adult muscle homeostasis remains not well understood. H...

BACKGROUND The expression of microRNA-206 (miR-206) is high in skeletal muscle but low in most other tissues. The expression of miR-206 is increased in muscular dystrophy, suggesting its involvement in the pathogenesis of muscle diseases. To determine the role of miR-206 in muscle cell differentiation and explore a possible gene therapy vector, we constructed a miR-206 adenoviral expression vec...

1α,25(OH)(2)D(3), the active form of vitamin D(3), has been reported to regulate the cell biology of skeletal muscle. However, there has been some controversy about the expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and thus the potential role of vitamin D(3) in skeletal muscle. In this study, we isolated and sequenced the full-length Vdr and Cyp27b1 transcripts in C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes. Wes...

Wdr68 is a highly conserved scaffolding protein required for craniofacial development and left-right asymmetry. A Ras-Map3k-Wdr68-Dyrk1 signaling relay may mediate these and other diverse signaling events important in development and disease. While the sub-cellular localization of Wdr68 has been shown to be dependent on that of its interaction partners, it is not clear where Wdr68 activity is r...

OBJECTIVES The mushroom Ganoderma lucidum has been widely used as a traditional herbal medicine for many years. Although several studies have focused on the anti-oxidative activity of this mushroom, the molecular mechanisms underlying its activity have not yet been clearly established. The present study investigated the cytoprotective effect of ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum (EGL) against...

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) increases recovery of rodent skeletal muscles after injury, and increases muscle function in rodent models of neuromuscular disease. However, the mechanisms by which G-CSF mediates these effects are poorly understood. G-CSF acts by binding to the membrane spanning G-CSFR and activating multiple intracellular signaling pathways. Expression of the G-C...