Cardiac Repair in a Porcine Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiovascular Cells Scientists utilized a porcine model of acute myocardial infarction to investigate the functional impact of intramyocardial transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, in combination with a 3D fibrin patch loaded with insulin growth factor-encapsulated microspheres. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Resolving Cancer-Stroma Interfacial Signaling and Interventions with Micropatterned Tumor-Stromal Assays Researchers established a micropatterned tumor-stromal assay with laser capture microdissection to control the location of co-cultured cells and analyzed bulk and interfacial tumor-stromal signaling in driving cancer progression. [Nat Commun] Abstract Fibroblasts Secrete Slit2 to Inhibit Fibrocyte Differentiation and Fibrosis In healthy tissues, even though monocytes enter the tissue, for unknown reasons, very few monocytes differentiate into fibrocytes. Investigators show that fibroblasts from healthy human tissues secrete the neuronal guidance protein Slit2 and that Slit2 inhibits human fibrocyte differentiation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Integrin αVβ3 Acting as Membrane Receptor for Thyroid Hormones Mediates Angiogenesis in Malignant T Cells Researchers found that thyroid hormones (THs), acting as soluble integrin αvβ3 ligands, activated growth-related signaling pathways in T-cell lymphomas (TCL). Specifically, TH-activated αvβ3 integrin signaling promoted TCL proliferation and angiogenesis, in part, via the up-regulation of VEGF. [Blood] Abstract Alpha Actinin-1 Regulates Cell-Matrix Adhesion Organization in Keratinocytes: Consequences for Skin Cell Motility The authors assessed the role of alpha actinin-1, one of the two alpha actinin isoforms expressed in keratinocytes, in skin cell migration via an shRNA-mediated knockdown approach. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract Matrix Metalloproteinase-14 Both Sheds Cell Surface NG2 Proteoglycan on Macrophages and Governs the Response to Peripheral Nerve Injury Using purified neuronal glial antigen 2 (NG2) ectodomain constructs, individual matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and primary macrophage (NG2-Mϕ) cultures, scientists demonstrated, for the first time, that MMP-14 performed as an efficient and unconventional NG2 sheddase, and that NG2-Mϕ infiltrated into the damaged peripheral nerve injury. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Development of a Sterile Amniotic Membrane Tissue Graft Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Exposure of amniotic membrane tissue to combined supercritical carbon dioxide and peracetic acid sterilization treatment did not significantly alter tissue architecture, the amounts of pertinent extracellular matrix proteins (type IV collagen, glycosaminoglycans, elastin) present in the tissue, or the biophysical properties of the tissue. [Tissue Eng Part C] Abstract 3D Collagen Alignment Limits Protrusions to Enhance Breast Cancer Cell Persistence Scientists investigated the contribution of matrix stiffness and alignment to cell migration speed and persistence. They found that collagen alignment confers an increase in stiffness, but does not increase the speed of migrating cells. [Biophys J] Abstract Cyclic Stretch Induced TGF-β1 and Fibronectin Expression Is Mediated by β1 Integrin through c-Src- and STAT3-Dependent Pathways in Renal Epithelial Cells The authors investigated the mechanism by which mechanical stretch, an in vitro model for chronic obstructive nephropathy, regulates fibronectin and transforming growth factor-β1 expression in cultured human proximal tubular epithelium cells. [Am J Physiol Renal Physiol] Abstract Proteomic Analysis of the Extracellular Matrix in Idiopathic Pes Equinovarus Investigators analyzed the protein composition of the extracellular matrix in contracted tissue of patients with clubfoot. A total of 19 extracellular matrix proteins were identified. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract |