Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.21 | Jun 6 2019

TOP STORY

Covalent Cross-Linking of Basement Membrane-Like Matrices Physically Restricts Invasive Protrusions in Breast Cancer Cells

Covalently cross-linked reconstituted basement membrane (rBM) matrices, and rBM-alginate interpenetrating networks with covalent cross-links and low plasticity, restricted cell spreading and protrusivity. The reduced spreading and reduced protrusivity in response to low mechanical plasticity occurred independent of proteases. [Matrix Biol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Proteolytic and Opportunistic Breaching of the Basement Membrane Zone by Immune Cells during Tumor Initiation

Using several different skin cancer models and a collagen I-GFP transgenic zebrafish line, scientists undertook correlative light and electron microscopy to capture the moments when immune cells traverse the basement membrane. They showed evidence both for active proteolytic burrowing and for the opportunistic use of pre-existing weak spots in the matrix layer. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Heparin-Poloxamer Hydrogel-Encapsulated rhFGF21 Enhances Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice

Researchers investigated the effect of thermosensitive heparin-poloxamer (HP) hydrogel-encapsulated recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 21 (rhFGF21) on wound healing in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. First, they studied the in vitro release of rhFGF21 from the rhFGF21-HP coacervate. Next, they examined the effect of rhFGF21-HP on skin wound healing in diabetic mice. [FASEB J] Abstract

α11β1 Integrin Is Induced in a Subset of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Desmoplastic Tumor Stroma and Mediates In Vitro Cell Migration

The new function-blocking α11 antibody, mAb 203E1, inhibited cell adhesion to collagen I, partially hindered fibroblast-mediated collagen remodeling and obstructed the three-dimensional migration rates of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts. [Cancers] Full Article

Nicotine Attenuates Osteoarthritis Pain and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression via the α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

In RAW264.7 cells and murine primary bone marrow-derived macrophages, nicotine significantly inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) production induced by LPS. In addition, nicotine significantly enhanced PI3K/Akt and inhibited NF-κB translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus in an α7-nAChR-dependent manner, suggesting that nicotine acts on α7-nAChRs to inhibit MMP-9 production by macrophages through modulation of the PI3K/Akt-NF-κB pathway. [J Immunol] Abstract

Exosomes from Tendon Stem Cells Promote Injury Tendon Healing through Balancing Synthesis and Degradation of the Tendon Extracellular Matrix

Scientists found that tendon stem cell injection and exosome injection significantly decreased matrix metalloproteinases-3 expression, increased expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 and Col-1a1, and increased biomechanical properties of ultimate stress and maximum loading. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Transitional Human Alveolar Type II Epithelial Cells Suppress Extracellular Matrix and Growth Factor Gene Expression in Lung Fibroblasts

Alveolar type II cells cultured on floating collagen gels reduced the expression of type 1 collagen and alpha smooth muscle actin in fibroblasts. They also reduced fibroblast expression of hepatocyte growth factor, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 7, and FGF10. When type II cells were cultured at an air/liquid interface to maintain high levels of surfactant protein expression, this inhibitory activity was lost. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

High Concentration Magnesium Inhibits Extracellular Matrix Calcification and Protects Articular Cartilage via Erk/Autophagy Pathway

Researchers found that magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) could efficiently suppress ECM calcification and downregulate both hypertrophy and matrix metalloproteinase-related genes. Mg²⁺ inhibited the formation of autophagy by inhibiting Erk phosphorylation signaling and lowering the expression of LC3, and eventually effectively reduced the formation of ECM calcification in vitro. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

The Extracellular Matrix Enriched with Membrane Metalloendopeptidase and Insulin-Degrading Enzyme Suppresses the Deposition of Amyloid-Beta Peptide in Alzheimer’s Disease Cell Models

The authors extracted the liquid ECM enriched with collagen-binding domain-fused insulin-degrading enzyme or membrane metalloendopeptidase from human foreskin fibroblast cells. They found that these ECM biomaterials reduced the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptides, prevented the formation of amyloid plaques, and also suppressed phosphorylation of tau protein in Alzheimer’s disease cell models. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Cultured Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrices to Enhance the Osteogenic Differentiation and Angiogenic Properties of Human Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

Investigators demonstrated that decellularized cultured cell-derived ECM presented higher cell metabolic activity compared to tissue culture polystyrene. They showed that mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC):human umbilical vein endothelial cell ECM enhanced the osteogenic and angiogenic potential of bone marrow MSCs, as assessed by in vitro assays. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

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Matrix Metalloproteinases in the CNS: Interferons Get Nervous

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been demonstrated to cleave multiple substrates of the central nervous systems (CNS) and contribute to promoting and dampening diseases of the CNS. The authors present some of the beneficial and destructive roles of MMPs in CNS pathologies and discuss strategies for the use of MMP inhibitors. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

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

Anika Announces Plans to Showcase HYALOFAST Hyaluronic Acid-Based Cartilage Repair Scaffold

Anika Therapeutics, Inc. announced plans to showcase HYALOFAST, a biodegradable, hyaluronic acid-based scaffold for cartilage repair, along with its regenerative medicine and orthobiologics portfolio. [Press release from Anika Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 2019 International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) Focus Meeting, Rome] Press Release

Quest for Manufacturing Human Tissue in Space via 3D Printer to Be Launched

Two high-tech companies have teamed up to develop the first 3D printer capable of manufacturing human tissue in the microgravity condition of space. Techshot Inc. and nScrypt developed the 3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF). The BFF will use adult human cells and adult tissue-derived proteins as its bioink to create viable tissue. [Techshot, Inc.] Press Release

Bioventus to Co-Develop Next Generation Placental Tissue Product for Knee Osteoarthritis with MTF Biologics

Bioventus has entered into a development collaboration agreement with MTF Biologics to co-develop a next generation placental tissue product for the treatment of painful musculoskeletal conditions, with an initial focus on knee osteoarthritis. [Bioventus] Press Release

Powerful US Senator Calls for Vetting NIH Grantees at Hearing on Foreign Influences

Research typically enjoys bipartisan support in the US Congress. But when it comes to the increasingly contentious topic of academic espionage by foreign governments, politics is never far from the surface. At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, Chairman Chuck Grassley urged federal agencies to do more to thwart “real, aggressive, and ongoing” attempts by foreign entities to steal the fruits of US-funded research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Hungarians Protest against Proposed Government Takeover of Science

Thousands of scientists and their supporters marched through the streets of Budapest on 2 June to protest against a proposed law that would give the Hungarian government direct control of the country’s top research institutes. [Nature News] Editorial

Brexit ‘May Bar UK Scientists From €100bn EU Research Fund’

The Horizon Europe program will fund €100bn in research projects, making it one of the largest science funds in the world. British researchers will be locked out unless the government negotiates an access deal in the coming months. [The Guardian] Editorial

Controversial US Bill Would Lift Supreme Court Ban on Patenting Human Genes

A congressional proposal that would overturn a landmark US Supreme Court decision that barred the patenting of human genes and ease other restrictions on patenting software and biomedical inventions is drawing fierce criticism from some scientific societies and patient advocates. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW European CanCer Organisation (ECCO) 2019: European Cancer Summit
September 12-14, 2019
Brussels, Belgium

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Bioengineering Cell Fate & Morphogeneis in Organoids (KU Leuven)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Techonologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships – Kidney Disease (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Experimental Systems Biology of Lung Regeneration & Fibrosis (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Hydrogel Chemistry & Kidney Tissue Engineering (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)

Head of School – Biomedical Engineering (University of Sydney)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Renal Extracellular Matrix Research (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury & Fibrosis (University of Connecticut Health Center)

Associate Professor/Professor – Cell & Molecular Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Computational Modeling of Cell-Matrix Interactions (Washington University, St. Louis)

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