Extracellular Matrix News Volume 5.36 | Sep 18 2014

Alteration of Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Adhesion in Urothelial Cells: An Oncogenic Mechanism for Mutant FGFR3
Ectopic expression of mutant fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) in normal urothelial cells has both pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects at confluence, suggesting that mutant cells are insensitive to cell-cell contact inhibition. Detailed analysis reveal that these cells have reduced cell-cell adhesion, with large inter-cellular spaces observable at confluence, and diminished cell-substrate adhesion to collagen IV, collagen I and fibronectin. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Capsaicin Suppresses the Migration of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells by Down-Regulating Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression via the AMPK-NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Scientists investigated the molecular mechanism of the capsaicin-induced anti-migration and anti-invasion effects on HuCCT1 cholangiocarcinoma cells. Migration and invasion were significantly reduced in response to capsaicin. Capsaicin also inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9. [Clin Exp Metastasis] Abstract

Disentangling the Multifactorial Contributions of Fibronectin, Collagen and Cyclic Strain on MMP Expression and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling by Fibroblasts
Investigators gained insight into the extracellular matrix-driven functional regulation of human foreskin fibroblasts being either anchored to a fibronectin or to a collagen-decorated matrix, in the absence or presence of cyclic mechanical strain. [Matrix Biol] Full Article

Expression of Gal-1 in Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Gastric Cancer Cell Invasion through Up-Regulation of Integrin β1
Scientists found that the over-expression of Gal-1 in carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) enhanced gastric cancer cell migration and invasion, and these stimulatory effects could be blocked by specific siRNA which reduced the Gal-1 expression level. Pre-blocking of the integrin β1 expression in gastric cancer cells with siRNA could interrupt the invasion-promoting effect of CAFs with high Gal-1 expression. [Cancer Sci] Abstract

Type I Collagen as an Extracellular Matrix for the In Vitro Growth of Human Small Intestinal Epithelium
There are concerns over the applicability of Matrigel-based methods for future human therapies. Researchers investigated type I collagen as an alternative for the culture of human intestinal epithelial cells. [PLoS One]
Full Article

Beta 1 Integrin Binding Plays a Role in the Constant Traction Force Generation in Response to Varying Stiffness for Cells Grown on Mature Cardiac Extracellular Matrix
Using traction force microscopy, investigators measured cellular traction forces and stresses for mesenchymal stem cells grown on polyacrylamide gels at a range of stiffnesses containing either adult rat heart extracellular matrix (ECM), different singular ECM proteins including collagen I, fibronectin, and laminin, or ECM mimics comprised of varying amounts of collagen I, fibronectin, and laminin. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Collagen Attachment to the Substrate Controls Cell Clustering through Migration
While the extracellular matrix (ECM) is known to control cell clustering, much of the quantitative work has focused on the analysis of clustering between cells with strong cell-cell junctions. Much less is known about how the ECM regulates cells with weak cell-cell contact. Clustering characteristics were quantified in rat adenocarcinoma cells, which form clusters on physically adsorbed collagen substrates, but not on covalently attached collagen substrates. [Phys Biol] Abstract

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HMS Receives $30 Million for Therapeutic Science Program
The Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science has received grant funding from three U.S. government agencies to launch its new research activities. The funding, from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration totals approximately $30 million over five years. [Harvard Medical School (HMS)] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Matrix Interactions and Progression of Kidney Disease (F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Animal Surgery (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Position – Proteases and Extracellular Matrix (GENYO)

PhD Position – Biomaterials/Cartilage Regeneration (Peking University)

PhD Student – Bioengineering (George Mason University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Roles of Extracellular Matrix in Regulating the Response of Tissues to Injury (University of California – San Francisco)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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