The Effect of Thick Fibers and Large Pores of Electrospun Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Vascular Grafts on Macrophage Polarization and Arterial Regeneration In vitro cell culture indicated that macrophages cultured on thicker-fiber scaffolds tended to polarize into the immunomodulatory and tissue remodeling phenotype, while those cultured on thinner-fiber scaffolds expressed proinflammatory phenotype. [Biomaterials] Abstract Binding of CD157 to Fibronectin Regulates Cell Adhesion and Spreading Using solid-phase binding assays and Surface Plasmon Resonance analysis, the authors demonstrated that CD157 binds fibronectin with high affinity within its heparin-binding domains 1 and 2. They found that CD157 binds to other extracellular matrix proteins containing heparin-binding domains. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Endorepellin Evokes Autophagy in Endothelial Cells Endorepellin, the C-terminal fragment of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan, possesses angiostatic activity via dual receptor antagonism, through concurrent binding to the α2β1 integrin and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. Scientists discovered that soluble endorepellin induced autophagy in endothelial cells by modulating the expression of Beclin 1, LC3 and p62, three established autophagic markers. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Enhanced Chondrogenic Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Using Nanopatterned PEG-GelMA-HA Hydrogels Scientists examined the effects of surface nanotopography and hyaluronic acid on in vitro chondrogenesis of dental pulp stem cells. UV-assisted capillary force lithography was employed to fabricate well-defined, nanostructured scaffolds of composite PEG-GelMA-HA hydrogels that consist of polyethylene glycol (PEG) dimethacrylate, methacrylated gelatin (GelMA), and hyaluronic acid (HA). [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract Fibronectin Matrix Polymerization Regulates Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype through a Rac1 Dependent Mechanism The authors used an in vitro cell culture system to determine the mechanism by which fibronectin polymerization affects smooth muscle phenotypic modulation. They showed that fibronectin polymerization decreases the mRNA levels of multiple smooth muscle differentiation genes, and downregulates the levels of smooth muscle α-actin and calponin proteins by a Rac1-dependent mechanism. [PLoS One] Full Article Remodeling of Aorta Extracellular Matrix as a Result of Transient High Oxygen Exposure in Newborn Rats: Implication for Arterial Rigidity and Hypertension Risk Considering that elastin synthesis peaks in late fetal life in humans, and early postnatal life in rodents, researchers postulated that transient neonatal high-oxygen exposure can trigger premature vascular remodeling. [PLoS One] Full Article Fluctuations in Intraocular Pressure Increase the Trabecular Meshwork Extracellular Matrix The trabecular meshwork (TM) tissue is constantly exposed to dynamic stress caused by intraocular pressure (IOP). The effects of such biomechanical stress on the TM have not been analyzed. Scientists developed an animal model of fluctuating IOP and evaluated the effects of these fluctuations on TM tissue. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article Viscoelastic Properties of Collagen-Adhesive Composites under Water Saturated and Dry Conditions To investigate the time and rate dependent mechanical properties of collagen-adhesive composites, creep and monotonic experiments were performed under dry and wet conditions. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract |