Extracellular Matrix News Volume 4.35 | Sep 5 2013

Differential Effects of Fluticasone on Extracellular Matrix Production by Airway and Parenchymal Fibroblasts in Severe COPD
The authors investigated the effects of fluticasone on TGFβ-and cigarette smoke-induced changes in Smad signaling and extracellular matrix production in airway and parenchymal lung fibroblasts from patients with severe COPD. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Stromal Matrix Metalloprotease-13 Knockout Alters Collagen I Structure at the Tumor-Host Interface and Increases Lung Metastasis of C57BL/6 Syngeneic E0771 Mammary Tumor Cells
Researchers investigated how matrix metalloprotease-13 modulates collagen I, a principal collagen subtype in breast tissue, and affects tumor pathology and metastasis in a mouse model of breast cancer. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Characterization of the Interaction between Robo1 and Heparin and Other Glycosaminoglycans
Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy was used to examine the interaction between roundabout 1 (Robo1) and heparin and other glycosaminoglycans and determined that heparin binds to Robo1 with an affinity of ∼650 nM. [Biochimie] Abstract

Modulation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome by Extracellular Matrix-Like Hydrogels
Investigators studied the impact of a hydrogel, gellan gum, on the behavior and secretome of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, both in its commercial available form and in a fibronectin peptide-modified form. [Biochimie] Abstract

Investigation on Interaction of Tannic Acid with Type I Collagen and Its Effect on Thermal, Enzymatic and Conformational Stability for Tissue Engineering Applications
The effect of tannic acid on the thermal, enzymatic and conformational stability of type I collagen has been investigated for the development of collagen based biomaterials. Interaction of tannic acid with collagen demonstrates the role of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction in providing the thermal and enzymatic stability. [Biopolymers] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ability to Generate Traction Stress in Response to Substrate Stiffness Is Modulated by the Changing Extracellular Matrix Composition of the Heart during Development
Scientists found that complex extracellular matrix composition plays an important role in modulating a cell’s ability to generate traction stress against a substrate, which is a significant component of mechanotransductive signaling. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Collagen Hydrogel as an Immunomodulatory Scaffold in Cartilage Tissue Engineering
A collagen type I hydrogel was constructed and used as the scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. Neonatal rabbit chondrocytes were seeded into the hydrogel, and the constructs were cultured in vitro for 7, 14, and 28 days. The immunomodulatory effect of the hydrogel on seeded chondrocytes was carefully investigated. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract

Border Patrol: Insights into the Unique Role of Perlecan/Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan2 at Cell and Tissue Borders
The authors propose a function for perlecan that extends its role from that of an extracellular scaffold to that of a critical agent for establishing and patrolling tissue borders in complex tissues in metazoans. They also propose that understanding these unique functions of the individual portions of the perlecan molecule can provide new insights and tools for engineering of complex multi-layered tissues including providing the necessary cues for establishing neotissue borders.[Matrix Biol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the extracellular matrix research field.

Halozyme Announces Roche Receives Marketing Authorization for Herceptin SC in European Union
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the European Commission has granted Roche European Union marketing authorization for the use of a time-saving subcutaneous (SC) formulation of Herceptin^® for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. This formulation utilizes Halozyme’s recombinant human hyaluronidase and is administered in two to five minutes, rather than 30 to 90 minutes with the standard intravenous form. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Researcher Awarded $5 Million to Advance Future Stem Cell Treatments for Segmental Bone Fractures
A Cedars-Sinai team of researchers led by principal investigator Dan Gazit, PhD, DMD, has been awarded a $5.18 million grant from California’s stem cell research agency to advance stem cell technologies in segmental bone defects, a complex medical problem caused by large portions of bone tissue loss. [Cedars-Sinai Medical Center] Press Release

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Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the extracellular matrix community.

Research Fellow – Biomaterial Surface Functionalization (Nanyang Technological University)

Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

PhD Student – Coronary Artery Research (Erasmus MC)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering (Weizmann Institute of Science)

PhD Position – Molecular Cell Biology (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Assistant/Associate Professor Position – Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (Universite de Montreal)

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