Endothelial Cell News Volume 1.21 | Aug 15 2016

TOP STORY

β-Catenin C-Terminal Signals Suppress p53 and Are Essential for Artery Formation

Scientists found that embryos lacking smooth muscle cell β-catenin suffer impaired arterial maturation and die by E12.5, with increased vascular wall p53 activity. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Angiogenic Factor AGGF1 Activates Autophagy with an Essential Role in Therapeutic Angiogenesis for Heart Disease

Investigators showed for the first time that AGGF1 activates autophagy, a housekeeping catabolic cellular process, in endothelial cells, HL1, H9C2, and vascular smooth muscle cells. [PLoS Biol] Full Article | Press Release

Suppression of Ischemia in Arterial Occlusive Disease by JNK-Promoted Native Collateral Artery Development

Researchers report that disruption of the mixed-lineage protein kinase – cJun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in endothelial cells causes severe blockade of blood flow and failure to recover in the murine femoral artery ligation model of hindlimb ischemia. [Elife] Full Article

Combinatorial Extracellular Matrix Microenvironments Promote Survival and Phenotype of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells in Hypoxia

Scientists developed a combinatorial extracellular matrix (ECM) microarray platform to simultaneously interrogate hundreds of micro-scale multi-component chemical compositions of ECMs on induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cell response. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Assessment of Endothelial Damage and Cardiac Injury in a Mouse Model Mimicking Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Investigators used an animal model in which thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-like symptoms are triggered by injection of 2000 units/kg of recombinant von Willebrand factor in ADAMTS13 knockout mice. [J Thromb Haemost] Abstract

Inhibition of VEGF₁₆₅/VEGFR2-Dependent Signaling by LECT2 Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Angiogenesis

The authors sought to determine the role of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) in tumor angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A VEGF-Dependent Gene Signature Enriched in Mesenchymal Ovarian Cancer Predicts Patient Prognosis

Scientists systematically evaluated a new VEGF-dependent gene signature in relation to molecular subtypes of ovarian cancer and patient prognosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Relationship between VEGF Gene Polymorphisms and Serum VEGF Protein Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Researchers identified functional vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) variants and their possible association with VEGF expression, susceptibility to and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. [PLoS One] Full Article

The Novel Model Peptide, αAL14, Regulates Angiogenesis by Inhibiting VEGFR 2-Mediated Signaling in HUVECs

The anti-angiogenic effects of αAL14 were investigated using vascular endothelial cells, HUVECs. αAL14 inhibited critical angiogenic processes including tubule formation, cell migration and cell invasion with no influence on cell proliferation in HUVECs. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Two Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-Inhibitory Peptides from Almond Protein and the Protective Action on Vascular Endothelial Function

Scientists discovered and prepared novel angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from almond protein and further evaluate the effect on endothelial function of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells. [Food Funct] Abstract

Cell–Cell Junctional Mechanotransduction in Endothelial Remodeling

The reviewers highlight recent advances in the current understanding of mechanotransduction responses at, and derived from, endothelial cell-cell junctions. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Full Article

Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Shuttle of Anticancer Agents

The authors review the most important progresses covering the following issues: the characterization of bona fide endothelial progenitor cells, their role in tumor vascularization and metastasis, and preclinical data about their use in cell-based tumor therapy, considering anti-angiogenic, suicide, immune-stimulating and oncolytic virus gene-therapy. [Hum Gene Ther] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the endothelial cell research field.

Prometic Completes Patients’ Enrolment in Pivotal Plasminogen Phase II/III Clinical Trial

ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. announced that it has completed enrolment of the congenital plasminogen deficient patients in its pivotal Phase II/III clinical trial required for the accelerated regulatory approval pathway with the Food and Drug Administration. [ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.] Press Release

AVEO Initiates the Evaluation of Tivozanib in Combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo^® (Nivolumab) in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

AVEO Oncology announced the initiation of a clinical evaluation of AVEO’s oral, once-daily, vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tivozanib, in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Opdivo^®, in advanced renal cell carcinoma. [AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

NIH Sets New Postdoc Stipend Levels

In response to a new rule governing overtime pay in the United States, the National Institutes of Health announced its new, increased postdoc stipend levels, which will go into effect December 1^st 2016. [Science Careers] Editorial | Notice

From Bark to Bedside

Clinical trials in dogs and cats are booming. Over the past decade, researchers have conducted hundreds of studies on pets to discover new therapies and medicines. But despite some moderate successes, the field has yet to have a dramatic impact on human medicine—and some critics wonder whether it ever will. [Science] Editorial

US Grants for Zebrafish Studies on the Rise

A team at the NIH Office of Portfolio Analysis assessed trends in the agency’s funding of model-organism research between 2008 and 2015, through its R01 awards, the largest NIH grant program for individual investigators. Using a text-mining algorithm and manual searches, they studied grant data for four animal models. The analysis revealed that grants for zebrafish studies accounted for 0.8% of all R01 awards in 2008, but for 1.27% in 2015 — a rise of almost 60%. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 19^th International Vascular Biology Meeting
October 30-November 3, 2016
Boston, United States

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

NEW PhD Research Project – The Role of Tetraspanin Microdomains in Angiogenesis (University of Birmingham)

Research Assistant – In Vitro Models of the Endothelium (Jagiellonian University)

PhD Thesis – In Vitro Models of the Blood-Saliva Barrier (Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Inflammation Contributes and Atherosclerosis (University of Hawaii)

Associate Professor – Immune-Endothelial Cell Interactions (University of Virginia)

Postdoctoral Position – Molecular and Cell Biology (University Hospital of Munster)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardiopulmonary Molecular Biology (Hannover Medical School)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Biology (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Cell Signaling (LSU Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Endothelial Cells (KULeuven)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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