Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.04 | May 20 2010

Modified Polyelectrolyte Complex Fibrous Scaffold as a Matrix for 3D Cell Culture
Interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation scaffolds offered a promising platform for the presentation of signals to cells, in this case, to influence their differentiated function. [Biomaterials]

Cellular Workouts Strengthen Endothelial Cells’ Grasp
Bioengineers have demonstrated that the cells that line blood vessels respond to mechanical forces — the microscopic tugging and pulling on cellular structures — by reinforcing and growing their connections, thus creating stronger adhesive interactions between neighboring cells. [Press release from the University of Pennsylvania discussing online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Mechanical Tugging Force Regulates the Size of Cell-Cell Junctions
These findings demonstrate that the dynamic coordination of mechanical forces and cell-cell adhesive interactions likely is critical to the maintenance of multicellular integrity and highlight the need for new approaches to study tugging forces. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Importance of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-Alpha Catalytic Domains for Interactions with SHP-2 and Interleukin-1-Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Expression
Researchers examined adhesion-restricted signaling pathways that enable IL-1-induced matrix metalloproteinase release in human gingival and murine fibroblasts. [J Biol Chem]

Photocrosslinkable Hyaluronan-Gelatin Hydrogels for Two-Step Bioprinting
Cells encapsulated within a printed construct were viable in culture, and gradually remodeled the synthetic extracellular matrix environment to a naturally secreted extracellular matrix. This two-step photocrosslinkable biomaterial addresses an unmet need for printable hydrogels useful in tissue engineering. [Tissue Eng Part A]

The Mevalonate Cascade as a Target to Suppress Extracellular Matrix Synthesis by Human Airway Smooth Muscle
These findings suggest that simvastatin and geranylgeranyl transferase 1 (GGT1)-286 inhibit synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix proteins by human airway smooth muscle cells by suppressing GGT1-mediated posttranslational modification of signaling molecules such as RhoA. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol]

A Transitional Extracellular Matrix Instructs Cell Behavior During Muscle Regeneration
By integrating in vivo 3-dimensional spatiotemporal matrix maps with in vitro functional time-lapse imaging, researchers show that key components of this dynamic matrix, hyaluronic acid, tenascin-C and fibronectin, differentially direct cellular behaviors including DNA synthesis, migration, myotube fragmentation and myoblast fusion. [Dev Biol]

Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Repair: Optimization of Biologic Scaffolds for Survival and Neural Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells
Researchers studied the best conditions for the proliferation and differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells when cultured on different biologic scaffolds derived from fibrin and blood plasma, and analyzed the best concentrations of fibrinogen, thrombin and calcium chloride for favoring cell survival. [Cytotherapy]

Spatially Controlled Cell Adhesion on Three-Dimensional Substrates
This is the first time cell adhesion was controlled by patterned functionalization of a polymeric substrate with UV curable photopatterned layer of poly(L-lysine) and hyaluronic acid in thermoformed 3D microstructures. [Biomed Microdevices]

Effect of Matrix Composition on Differentiation of Nestin-Positive Neural Progenitors from Circulation into Neurons
In vitro experiments indicate that a highly specific niche consisting of various components of the extracellular matrix, including hyaluronic acid, promote cell homing, survival and differentiation. [J Neural Eng]

MT1-MMP Promotes Cell Growth and ERK Activation through C-Src and Paxillin in Three-Dimensional Collagen Matrix
Researchers show that membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) induces extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation in cancer cells cultured in collagen gel, which is indispensable for their proliferation. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun]

Three Dimensional Chitin-Based Scaffolds from Verongida Sponges (Demospongiae: Porifera). Part II. Biomimetic Potential and Applications
Researchers show for the first time that freshly isolated chondrocytes attached well to the chitin scaffold and synthesized an extracellular matrix similar to that found in other cartilage tissue engineering constructs. [Int J Biol Macromol]

The Pontifical Council for Culture and NeoStem Partner to Advance Adult Stem Cell Research
NeoStem, Inc., an international biopharmaceutical company with operations in the US and China, and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture, announced a joint initiative that includes their charitable organizations to expand research and raise awareness of adult stem cell therapies. [NeoStem, Inc. Press Release]

Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biotechnology and Medicine, Genzyme Enter into Strategic Partnership
The strategic partnership between Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biotechnology and Medicine and Genzyme will help quickly and successfully bring the company’s innovative drugs to China, promoting innovation and development of the Chinese biopharmaceutical industry. [PR Newswire Press Release]

The New York Stem Cell Foundation Receives $27 Million Grant from Robertson Foundation to Promote Stem Cell Research
The New York Stem Cell Foundation has received a grant of $27 million from the Robertson Foundation, established by Julian and Josie Robertson. [The New York Stem Cell Foundation Press Release]

The Automation Partnership Previews New System for 3D Tissue Production at TERMIS
The Automation Partnership (TAP) is pleased to announce it will be unveiling RAFT (Real Architecture for 3D Tissue), its innovative system for generating reproducible, 3D collagen tissue constructs on TAP Stand 1 at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) Conference. [The Automation Partnership Press Release]

FibroGen Reports Preclinical Data Showing that FG-3019 Reversed the Process of Fibrosis in the Lung
FibroGen, Inc. announced that administration of investigational therapy FG-3019, a human monoclonal antibody against connective tissue growth factor, reversed the process of fibrosis in a preclinical model of radiation-induced lung fibrosis, a finding that has implications for treating multiple types of fibrotic disease. [FibroGen, Inc. Press Release]

United States FDA Clears Phase 2 Trial for Cervical Spinal Fusion
Australia’s regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited, announced that it has received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin Phase 2 clinical trials of its “off-the-shelf” or allogeneic stem cell product NeoFuse™ for fusion of the cervical spine in the neck. [Mesoblast Limited Press Release]

Johns Hopkins to Unveil Center for Biotechnology Education
The Johns Hopkins University’s Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Advanced Academic Programs, will unveil the Center for Biotechnology at its fifth annual biotechnology research symposium. [Johns Hopkins’ Center for Biotechnology Education Press Release]

COMPETES Loses Again in House After Failing to Clear Higher Bar
A revised version of a bill to foster research and innovation went down to defeat on the House floor this morning for a second time in less than a week. Although legislators voted 261 to 148 in favor of it, it failed to win the supermajority required in this case. [House of Representatives, United States]

United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius Announces $1 Billion in NIH Recovery Act Awards to Construct or Improve Biomedical Research Facilities
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced one billion dollars of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds have been awarded to construct, repair and renovate scientific research laboratories and related facilities across the country. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

European and International Experts Discuss the Way Forward in Stem-Cell Research and Development
The European Medicines Agency assembled for the first time European and international experts from academia, regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical industry to review opportunities and difficulties in developing stem cell-based therapies and to discuss regulatory challenges. [European Medicines Agency, European Union]

EU Agency Prepares to Assess First Stem Cell Drug
The first regenerative medicine based on stem cells could be filed for approval in Europe later this year, bringing the groundbreaking medical technology a step closer to reality. [European Medicines Agency, European Union]

Statement by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and NIH Director Francis Collins Regarding the President’s Intent to Appoint Dr. Harold Varmus as Director of the National Institute of Cancer at the National Institutes of Health [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

Notice of Intent to Publish Request for Applications for the Clinical Proteomic Technologies for Cancer Initiative (CPTC): Proteome Characterization Centers (NOT-CA-10-027) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

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
Shenzhen, 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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