Inhibition of Hyaluronan Synthesis Restores Immune Tolerance during Autoimmune Insulitis Scientists demonstrated that hyaluronan (HA) is critical for the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes. Moreover, treatment with an inhibitor of HA synthesis, 4-methylumbelliferone, halted progression to diabetes even after the onset of insulitis. [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Press Release Robust Bioengineered 3D Functional Human Intestinal Epithelium To replicate in vitro the tissue architecture and microenvironments of native intestine, researchers developed a 3D porous protein scaffolding system, containing a geometrically-engineered hollow lumen, with adaptability to both large and small intestines. [Sci Rep] Full Article Three-Dimensional Morphogenesis of MDCK Cells Induced by Cellular Contractile Forces on a Viscous Substrate The authors focused on the relationship between epithelial cell 3D morphogenesis and the substrate viscosity. Cells cultured on genipin-treated-matrigel changed their 3D morphology in a substrate viscosity-dependent manner. [Sci Rep] Full Article Three-Dimensional Fabrication of Cell-Laden Biodegradable Poly(Ethylene Glycol-Co-Depsipeptide) Hydrogels by Visible Light Stereolithography A new methacrylated poly(ethylene glycol-co-depsipeptide) macromer combined with RGDS peptide was used for stereolithography fabrication of hydrogels in absence and presence of cells. Encapsulated endothelial cells proliferated in the hydrogels during 10-day in vitro cell culturing study. [J Mat Chem B] Abstract Syndecan-1 and Syndecan-4 Capture Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Family Members and the α3β1 Integrin via Binding Sites in Their Ectodomains: Novel Synstatins Prevent Kinase Capture and Inhibit α6β4-Integrin-Dependent Epithelial Cell Motility Scientists demonstrated that HER2 is captured via a site, comprised of amino acids 210-240, in the extracellular domain of human syndecan-1 (Sdc1), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is captured via an extracellular site comprised of amino acids 87-131 in human Sdc4. Binding assays using purified recombinant proteins demonstrates that the interaction between the EGFR family members and the syndecans is direct. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Microfabrication of Scaffold-Free Tissue Strands for Three-Dimensional Tissue Engineering Tissue strands were obtained using tubular alginate conduits as mini-capsules with well-defined permeability and mechanical properties, where their removal by ionic decrosslinking allowed the formation of scaffold-free cell aggregates in the form of cylindrical strands with well-defined morphology and geometry. [Biofabrication] Abstract In Situ Patterned Micro 3D Liver Constructs for Parallel Toxicology Testing in a Fluidic Device The authors describe a strategy for realizing multiple tissue constructs in a parallel microfluidic platform using an approach that is simple and can be easily scaled for high-throughput formats. Liver cells mixed with a UV-crosslinkable hydrogel solution are introduced into parallel channels of a sealed microfluidic device and photopatterned to produce stable tissue constructs in situ. [Biofabrication] Abstract | Full Article Ultrastructural Investigation on Fibroblast Interaction with Collagen Scaffold Researchers aimed at providing a structural analysis of how NIH3T3 fibroblasts migrate and proliferate in vitro when seeded on a native type-I collagen scaffold. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Cancer Cell Invasion Driven by Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Is Dependent on the Properties of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Scientists investigated how cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with various matrix-remodeling capacities influence cancer cell invasion. Using a co-culture model, they evaluated the correlations between the number of invaded cancer cells and the remodeling areas generated by CAF clones in each case. [J Cancer Res Clin Oncol] Abstract |