Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.00 | Apr 22 2010

A Fusion Protein N-Cadherin-Fc as an Artificial Extracellular Matrix Surface for Maintenance of Stem Cell Features
With conventionally used extracellular matrices (ECMs), maintenance of undifferentiated state of stem cells and regulation of their neural differentiation process is very difficult due to the colony formation through intercellular interactions. To overcome the above-mentioned problems, scientists developed a new artificial ECM to mimic N-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion. [Biomaterials]

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The Protein Scarface Establishes Order in the Drosophila Epithelium
Researchers provide new data about the elements that organize epithelial cells in tissue. [Press release from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine Barcelona discussing online prepublication in EMBO Reports]

Inkjet-Like Device ‘Prints’ Cells Right Over Burns
Researchers dissolved human skin cells from pieces of skin, separating and purifying the various cell types such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes. They put them in a nutritious solution to make them multiply and then used a system similar to a multicolor office inkjet printer to apply first a layer of fibroblasts and then a layer of keratinocytes, which form the protective outer layer of skin. [Press release from Reuters discussing research presented at the Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum]

Scarface, a Secreted Serine Protease-Like Protein, Regulates Polarized Localization of Laminin A at the Basement Membrane of the Drosophila Embryo
In Drosophila, researchers analyze the role of the secreted serine protease-like protein Scarface in germ-band retraction and dorsal closure-morphogenetic processes that rely on the activity of integrins and laminins. [EMBO Rep]

A Nerve Graft Constructed with Xenogeneic Acellular Nerve Matrix and Autologous Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Researchers constructed a nerve regeneration characteristics-containing nerve graft through integrating xenogeneic acellular nerve matrix with autologous neural differentiated adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. [Biomaterials]

Functional Surfaces for High-Resolution Analysis of Cancer Cell Interactions on Exogenous Hyaluronic Acid
Researchers use a new approach to study cell interactions with hyaluronic acid (HA)-presenting regions, by covalently linking HA adjacent to PEG-ylated regions, which resist cell adhesion. [Biomaterials]

The Chondrogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on an Extracellular Matrix Scaffold Derived From Porcine Chondrocytes
Results suggest that the extracellular matrix scaffold not only strongly supports chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs), but also helps maintain its phenotype in vivo. Researchers speculate that the extracellular matrix scaffold provides rMSCs with a favorable, native cartilage-like environment and therefore can be a promising tool for cartilage tissue engineering. [Biomaterials]

Engineering Hydrogels as Extracellular Matrix Mimics
Researchers detail the progress of the current state-of-the-art engineering methods to create cell-encapsulating hydrogel tissue constructs as well as their applications in in vitro models in biomedicine. [Nanomedicine (Lond)]

Network Analysis of Primary Hepatocyte Dedifferentiation Using a Shotgun Proteomics Approach
Hepatocytes cultured in a sandwich of extracellular matrix protein maintain better hepatic function compared with cells cultured as a monolayer, but a wide-ranging proteomics study of the differences in cultures has never been performed. [J Proteome Res]

Microarray-Based Transcriptional and Epigenetic Profiling of Matrix Metalloproteinases, Collagens and Related Genes in Cancer
To identify the common epigenetic signatures of both the individual matrix metalloproteinases and the additional genes, the function of which is also linked to proteolysis, migration and tumorigenesis, researchers performed epigenetic profiling of 486 selected genes in unrelated non-migratory MCF-7 breast carcinoma and highly migratory U251 glioma cells. [J Biol Chem]

Type III Collagen: A Fibril Network Modifier in Articular Cartilage
In a study to understand better the structural role of type III collagen in cartilage, researchers find that type III collagen molecules with unprocessed N-propeptides are present in the extracellular matrix of adult human and bovine articular cartilages as covalently cross-linked polymers extensively cross-linked to type II collagen. [J Biol Chem]

Inhibition of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Targeting Prolyl Hydroxylase Domain-Containing Protein 2 (PHD2) Enhances Matrix Synthesis by Human Chondrocytes
Here researchers have identified PHD2 as the dominant isoenzyme regulating Hypoxia Inducible Factor 2-alpha stability in human chondrocytes. [J Biol Chem]

Versican Facilitates Chondrocyte Differentiation and Regulates Joint Morphogenesis
Results suggest that versican facilitates chondrogenesis and joint morphogenesis, by localizing TGF-beta in the extracellular matrix and regulating its signaling. [J Biol Chem]

Apollo Hospitals Group Forays into Stem Cell Research
Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Centre, under the aegis of Apollo Hospitals, has set up Cell and Molecular Biology Research Center, which will be involved in stem cell research and clinical trials, in its Jubilee Hills campus. [Apollo Hospitals Group Press Release]

Halozyme Announces Multiple Commercial Supply Agreements for the Manufacture of rHuPH20
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products targeting the extracellular matrix, announced the execution of multiple commercial supply agreements with its existing manufacturing partners. [Halozyme Therapeutics Press Release]

Momenta Pharmaceuticals Announces Presentation of Preclinical Data on the Anti-Cancer Properties of M402 at American Association of Cancer Research Meeting
M402, a rationally designed heparin sulfate mimetic with a novel mechanism of action, synergizes with gemcitabine to improve survival and reduce metastasis in a murine model of pancreatic cancer. [Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]

Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. Announces Elimination of $1.1 Million of Debt
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. announced the elimination of an additional $1,109,309 in obligations during the quarter ended March 31, 2010. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News]

Stem Cell Funding in Sight
Two of the most widely used embryonic stem cell lines could be just weeks away from being eligible for United States federal funding. [Obama Administration, United States]

Obama Picks Pragmatists for New Bioethics Panel
President Barack Obama named the members of his bioethics commission – headed by two university presidents. [Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, United States]

NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Request for Information (RFI): Priorities for the NIH Adherence Research Network (NOT-OD-10-078) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Change in Receipt Date for NCCAM T32 Applications (NOT-AT-10-004) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Change in Receipt Date for NCCAM T35 Applications (NOT-AT-10-005) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Policy Reminder Concerning Appendix Materials for All National Institutes of Health/Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Grant Applications (NOT-OD-10-077) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Enhancing Peer Review: Clarification of Resubmission Policy and Determination of New Application Status (NOT-OD-10-080) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Small Research Grant Program (R03) (PAR-10-168)  [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Human Cell, Tissues and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/P) List of Registered Establishments [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Preparation for International Conference on Harmonisation Steering Committee and Expert Working Group Meetings in Tallinn, Estonia; Regional Public Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Society for Biological Engineering’s (SBE) Second International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering 
May 2-5, 2010
Boston, United States

Stem Cells, Tissue Homeostasis and Cancer Conference
May 12-15, 2010
Heidelberg, Germany

Mater Medical Research Institute (MMRI) Stem Cell Symposium 2010: Epigenetics, Transcriptomics and Nanobiotechnology of Stem Cells
May 20-21, 2010
Brisbane, Australia

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Systems Biology of Stem Cells
May 24-25, 2010
Irvine, United States

International Scientific Symposium: Stem Cells in Biology and Disease
May 26-28, 2010
Lisbon, Portugal

American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) 56th Annual Conference
May 27-29, 2010
Baltimore, United States

46th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
June 4-8, 2010
Chicago, United States

The First Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Scientific Symposium
June 14, 2010
Los Angeles, United States

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

21st Meeting of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) 
June 26-29, 2010
Oslo, Norway

United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) Third Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

2010 World Cancer Congress
August 18-21, 2010
Beijing, China

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Meeting – Advancing the Life Sciences
September 4-7, 2010
Barcelona, Spain

Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
September 13-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States 

15th Congress of the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO)
September 15-17, 2010
Bordeaux, France

9th Annual Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) World Congress
September 19-23, 2010
Sydney, Australia

35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress
October 8-12, 2010
Milan, Italy

Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010
October 29-30, 2010
Leipzig, Germany

6th National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Conference
November 7-10, 2010
Liverpool, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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