Endothelial Cell News 2.20 June 12, 2017 | |
| |
TOP STORYMaking Vessels Leaky on Demand Could Aid Drug Delivery The endothelial cells that line blood vessels are packed tightly to keep blood inside and flowing, but scientists have discovered it may be possible to selectively open gaps in those barriers just enough to let large molecules through — and then close them again. Bioengineer Gang Bao and collaborators reported using magnets to help iron-oxide nanoparticles invade endothelial cells both in the lab and in vivo. Then they used the same magnets to make vessels temporarily “leaky.” [Press release from Rice University discussing online prepublication in Nature Communications] Press Release | Full Article | |
| |
PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Dynamic Alterations in Decoy VEGF Receptor-1 Stability Regulate Angiogenesis Membrane-localized vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (mVEGFR1) is an endothelial cell-intrinsic decoy receptor that negatively modulates blood vessel morphogenesis. The authors showed that dynamic regulation of mVEGFR1 stability and turnover in blood vessels impacts angiogenesis. [Nat Commun] Full Article Endothelial-to-Osteoblast Conversion Generates Osteoblastic Metastasis of Prostate Cancer Researchers showed that tumor-induced bone derives partly from tumor-associated endothelial cells that have undergone endothelial-to-osteoblast conversion. The tumor-associated osteoblasts in prostate cancer bone metastasis specimens and patient-derived xenografts were found to co-express endothelial marker Tie-2. [Dev Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Specification and Diversification of Pericytes and Smooth Muscle Cells from Mesenchymoangioblasts Investigators found that mesoderm-derived pericytes (PCs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) originate from a clonal mesenchymal progenitor mesenchymoangioblast (MB). In clonogenic cultures, MBs differentiated into primitive PDGFRβ+CD271+CD73− mesenchymal progenitors, which gave rise to proliferative PCs, SMCs, and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract Unraveling the Regulation of Insulin Transport across the Brain Endothelial Cell Scientists examined potential mechanisms regulating brain endothelial cell (BEC) insulin uptake, signaling and degradation during BEC transcytosis, and how transport is affected by a high-fat diet and by astrocyte activity. At physiological insulin concentrations, the insulin receptor, not the IGF-1 receptor, facilitated BEC insulin uptake, which required lipid raft-mediated endocytosis, but did not require insulin action on phosphoinositide-3-kinase or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. [Diabetologia] Abstract Placental Labyrinth Formation in Mice Requires Endothelial FLRT2–UNC5B Signaling The authors determined that fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein 2, a repulsive ligand of the UNC5 receptor family for neurons, is expressed in endothelial cells specifically in the placental labyrinth. Mice lacking FLRT2 in endothelial cells exhibited embryonic lethality at mid-gestation, with systemic congestion and hypoxia. [Development] Abstract Researchers analyzed whether tissue factor (TF) might exert angiogenic effects by inducing transdifferentiation of monocytes (Mo). In microvascular endothelial cells, full length TF and alternatively spliced TF expression and release were increased in cultures with Mo-conditioned media. TF variants induced expansion of CD16+ Mo subset and Mo transdifferentiation into endothelial cell-like-cells expressing vascular endothelial cell markers that can form new microvessels. [J Thromb Haemost] Abstract The authors describe the development of a novel tri-culture model, using non-small cell lung cancer cell lines (A549 and Colo699) in combination with a fibroblast cell line and two different endothelial cell lines in a hanging drop technology. Endothelial cells aggregated either in small colonies in Colo699 containing microtissues or in tube like structures mainly in the stromal compartment of microtissues containing A549. [Sci Rep] Full Article Scientists investigated the influence of cell sheets composed of co-cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells and endothelial progenitor cells on implant osseointegration in irradiated bone. Cell sheets were wrapped around titanium implants to make cell sheet-implant complexes. The co-cultured group showed the highest osteogenic differentiation potential in vitro, as indicated by the extracellular matrix mineralization and the expression of osteogenesis related genes at both mRNA and protein levels. [Sci Rep] Full Article The degeneration of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is one of the key features of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. In vitro assay demonstrated that elevated mechanical stretch stimulated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and microparticle production from both SMCs and endothelial cells (ECs) in a time-dependent manner. In vivo, administration of an ER stress inhibitor or knockout of CHOP suppressed both apoptosis of EC and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. [Clin Sci (Lond)] Full Article Let-7 Contributes to Diabetic Retinopathy but Represses Pathological Ocular Angiogenesis Investigators report that let-7 family members are expressed in retinal and choroidal endothelial cells (ECs). In ECs, overexpression of let-7 by adenovirus repressed EC proliferation, migration, and networking in vitro, while inhibition of the let-7 family with a locked nucleic acid-anti-microRNA had the opposite effect. [Mol Cell Biol] Abstract | |
| |
REVIEWSAngiogenesis in Metabolic-Vascular Disease The authors summarize the role of angiogenesis in metabolic-vascular disease, with specific focus on the role of angiogenesis in obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and on signaling pathways, especially PI3K, linking cell metabolism to endothelial function. [Thromb Haemost] Abstract | Full Article (Download) Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the endothelial cell research field. | |
| |
SCIENCE NEWSAngionetics to Present at Marcum 2017 MicroCap Conference Angionetics Inc. announced that Mr. Christopher J. Reinhard, its Chief Executive Officer, will be presenting at the Marcum 2017 MicroCap Conference. [Press release from Angionetics Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.) discussing research to be presented at the 2017 Marcum MicroCap Conference, New York City] Press Release TRACON Pharmaceuticals Presents Positive Clinical Data from TRC105 and TRC102 Studies TRACON Pharmaceuticals report positive clinical results from multiple studies with TRC105 and TRC102. TRC105 is a novel, clinical stage antibody to endoglin, a protein overexpressed on proliferating endothelial cells that is essential for angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation. [Press release from TRACON Pharmaceuticals discussing research presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago] Press Release | |
| |
INDUSTRY NEWSAVEO Oncology Announces Phase I/II TiNivo Trial of Tivozanib and Opdivo® in RCC Advances to Phase II AVEO Oncology announced that its Phase I/II AVEO-sponsored TiNivo trial evaluating tivozanib in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Opdivo®, in subjects with advanced renal cell carcinoma has progressed to the Phase II portion of the trial. [AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release Exelixis, Inc. announced the initiation of the dose-escalation stage of a Phase Ib trial of cabozantinib in combination with atezolizumab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma or renal cell carcinoma. The primary objective is to determine the optimal dose and schedule of daily oral administration of cabozantinib when given in combination with atezolizumab to inform the trial’s subsequent expansion stage. [Exelixis, Inc.] Press Release | |
| |
POLICY NEWSCuriosity and Irritation Meet Macron’s Effort to Lure Foreign Scientists to France The French government unveiled a website aimed at attracting foreign scientists with four-year grants worth up to €1.5 million each. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Trump Names Sharpless to Lead U.S. Cancer Institute President Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint Norman “Ned” Sharpless to be the next director of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Sharpless, who is 50 years old, is a physician and currently director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He also holds an academic appointment at the university’s school of medicine. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
| |
EVENTSNEW 11th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)-Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) Joint Conference Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
| |
JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW PhD Positions – Tight Junction Research (Charite, University Medicine Berlin) NEW Postdoctoral Position – Biomaterials (Linnaeus University) Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Cancer and Vascular Biology (University of Oxford) Postdoctoral Research Associate – Immunity (University of Illinois) PhD Position – Redox Biology in the Cardiovascular System (Institute of Molecular Biology Mainz) Postdoctoral Researcher – Cardiopulmonary Molecular Biology (Hannover Medical School) Postdoctoral Fellows – Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Disease Modeling (Duke University) Postdoctoral Positions – Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism (VIB) PhD Positions – Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism (VIB) PhD Fellow – Ophthalmology (KU Leuven) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
| |
Have we missed an important article or publication in Endothelial Cell News? Click here to submit! Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here. | |
|