Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.12 | Jul 22 2010

The Extracellular Matrix Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Regulates Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity by Modulating Postsynaptic L-Type Ca2+ Channels 
Observations unveil a previously unrecognized mechanism by which the perisynaptic extracellular matrix influences use-dependent synaptic plasticity through regulation of dendritic Ca2+ channels. [Neuron]

More Hope for Lab-Grown Lungs
Lung tissue grown in culture functioned for six hours when transplanted into living rats. [Press release from Nature discussing online prepublication in Nature Medicine]

Regeneration and Orthotopic Transplantation of a Bioartificial Lung
After transplantation, lung constructs were perfused by the recipient’s circulation and ventilated by means of the recipient’s airway and respiratory muscles, and they provided gas exchange in vivo for up to 6 hours after extubation. [Nat Med]

Synergic Effects of Crypt-Like Topography and Extracellular Matrix Proteins on Intestinal Cell Behavior in Collagen Based Membranes
A biomimetic intestinal cell culture system composed of type I collagen based permeable cell culture membranes incorporating both micron-scale intestinal crypt-like topography and nanometer scale topography was fabricated. [Biomaterials]

Functional Skeletal Muscle Formation with a Biologic Scaffold
The objective of the present study was to determine both the in situ tetanic contractile response and histomorphologic characteristics of skeletal muscle tissue reconstructed using one of four test articles in a rodent abdominal wall model: 1) porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS)-ECM; 2) carbodiimide-crosslinked porcine SIS-ECM; 3) autologous tissue; or 4) polypropylene mesh.  [Biomaterials]

Effects of RGDS Sequence Genetically Interfused in the Silk Fibroin Light Chain Protein on Chondrocyte Adhesion and Cartilage Synthesis
Researchers focused on integrin-mediated cell-scaffold adhesion and prepared cell adhesive fibroin in which a tandem repeat of the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) sequence was genetically interfused in the fibroin light chain (L-chain) (L-RGDS×2 fibroin). [Biomaterials]

Polylaminin, a Polymeric Form of Laminin, Promotes Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury
Researchers investigated whether a biomimetic polymer of laminin assembled on pH acidification, called polylaminin, could be used to treat spinal cord injury in rats. [FASEB J]

EDA-Containing Cellular Fibronectin Induces Fibroblast Differentiation Through Binding to Alpha4Beta7 Integrin Receptor and MAPK/Erk 1/2-Dependent Signaling
Researchers show that alternatively spliced domain A (EDA)-containing cellular fibronectin increases alpha-SMA expression (immunofluorescence), collagen deposition, cell contractility, and focal adhesion kinase activation (immunoblotting); whereas plasma fibronectin, a form lacking EDA, shows no effect. [FASEB J]

Processing of Procollagen III by Meprins: New Players in Extracellular Matrix Assembly?
Researchers present a new role for meprins in extracellular matrix assembly, namely the proteolytic processing of procollagens. [J Invest Dermatol]

Regulation of Integrin Beta1 Recycling to Lipid Rafts by Rab1a to Promote Cell Migration
Results suggest a novel function for Rab1a in the regulation of cell migration through controlling integrin beta1 recycling and localization to lipid rafts via a specific downstream effector pathway. [J Biol Chem]

Endogenous MMP2 and MMP9 Regulate Activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells
The effect of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) specific inhibition on T cell dependent antigen-specific murine lung injury was examined in vivo. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol]

Fibronectin Induces Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in Human Laryngeal Carcinoma Cells by Involving Multiple Signaling Pathways
The study suggests that extracellular matrix protein fibronectin induces MMP-9 in HEp-2 cells mainly by involving integrin receptor alpha5beta1 and involves activation of multiple signaling pathways which independently or in “cross-talk” to each other finally leads to the transactivation of the MMP-9 gene. [ Biochimie]

Low-Magnitude Vertical Vibration Enhances Myotube Formation in C2C12 Myoblasts
Researchers addressed the hypothesis that vertical vibration can enhance the expression of extracellular matrix proteins and myogenic regulatory factors in myoblasts and, in turn, increase myotube formation.  [J Appl Physiol]

International Stem Cell Corporation and Insight Bioventures Seek to Establish Indian Operations
International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO), and Insight Bioventures India Private Limited, announced that they have signed a letter of intent concerning funding and establishment of an Indian affiliate of ISCO. [International Stem Cell Corporation Press Release]

New Research Collaboration to Advance Stem Cell Use
North East-based Orla Protein Technologies Ltd., the UK Stem Cell Bank and Newcastle University, have been awarded a grant by the Technology Strategy Board to develop technology which could dramatically improve the way cells are grown in a laboratory. [UK Stem Cell Bank Press Release]

NIH Awards Rice $1.7 Million for Cartilage-Regeneration Research
Bioengineers from Rice University’s BioScience Research Collaborative have won a $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop an injectable mix of polymers and adult stem cells that can spur the growth of new cartilage in injured knees and other joints. [Rice University Press Release]

NeoStem to Receive $700,000 from the U.S. Army’s Medical Research and Materiel Command to Advance Adult Stem Cell Therapies in Treating Traumatic Wounds
NeoStem, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a $700,000 contract from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (USAMRMC-TATRC) under U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity contract number: (W81XWH-10-2-0039). [NeoStem, Inc. Press Release]

Mesoblast Receives TGA Regulatory Approval to Commercially Manufacture Adult Stem Cell Products
Australian regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited announced that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a license to Mesoblast to manufacture and supply its proprietary Mesenchymal Precursor Cell products. [Mesoblast Limited Press Release]

Harvard Bioscience Novel Bioreactor Helps Grow First Functional Lung for Successful Transplant in Collaboration with Dr. Harald Ott and Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Bioscience, Inc. announced that its Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik business collaborated with Dr. Harald Ott and Massachusetts General Hospital to design and manufacture a novel bioreactor that was used to grow a functional lung. [Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Press Release]

Patent Is Filed on Shrink Nanotechnologies’ CellAlign Advanced Tissue Engineering Platform Technology
CellAlign has the potential to grow sheets of living tissues that may one day act as ‘band-aids’ to patch and repair, and possibly regenerate, damaged or diseased organs. [Shrink Nanotechnologies Press Release]

BioTime Announces Addition of New Stem Cell Lines to Its Product Portfolio
BioTime, Inc. announced that on August 1, 2010 the Company will be offering for sale 21 new stem cell products for research use only. [Yahoo! Finance]

House Panel Approves 3.2% Raise for NIH in 2011
A House of Representatives spending panel yesterday approved a $1 billion increase, to $32 billion, in the 2011 budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Expands National Network for Transforming Clinical and Translational Research
Nine health research centers have received funds to develop ways to reduce the time it takes for clinical research to become treatments for patients. The funds were awarded as part of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards program which is led by the National Center for Research Resources. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Brussels to Invest $8.3 Billion in Research
Research organizations, universities, and industry will receive a sum of EUR6.4 billion next year in the European Commission’s largest ever allocation for research and innovation. [European Commission, European Union]

Ireland Keeps Light Shining on Science with New Spending
In a surprise move, the Irish government (which is tottering on the brink of bankruptcy) announced that it would inject EUR359 million into research. [Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions, Ireland]

Russian Researchers Call for Better Coordination of Science
More than 2200 researchers sent an open letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week asking the government to set Russian science in order and to consult with the scientific community when making major science-policy decisions. [Russia]

‘Game Over’ for British Science?
The Royal Society and the British Academy strongly warned the British government that looming cuts to science funding could be “irreversibly catastrophic for the future of U.K. science and economic growth” if they go too far. [The Royal Society and the British Academy, United Kingdom]

Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for Which Public Health Service Funding Is Sought and Responsible Prospective Contractors [Docket Number NIH-2010-0001] [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

Office of Biotechnology Activities; Recombinant DNA Research: Proposed Action Under the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines) (Doc. 2010-17668) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Tumor Microenvironment Network (TMEN) (NOT-CA-10-032) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Clarification of Additional Research Objectives for NICHD PAR-08-138, Genetic Screens to Enhance Zebrafish Research (R01) (NOT-HD-10-015) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Expiration of Biomedical Technology Research Resource (PAR-08-259) and Reissuance of Biomedical Technology Research Center (P41)(PAR-10-225) (NOT-RR-10-011) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

2011 NIH Directors New Innovator Award Program (DP2) (RFA-RM-10-009) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

The Tissue & Cell Engineering Society 2010 Meeting
July 28-30, 2010
Manchester, United Kingdom

2nd International Conference on Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (ICCMB2)
August 2-4, 2010
Singapore

NEW Advances in Tissue Engineering 2010-18th Annual Short Course
August 11-14, 2010
Houston, United States

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

NEW Select Biosciences 3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

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

23rd European Conference on Biomaterials
September 11-15, 2010
Tampere, Finland

NEW Hydra VI: The European Summer School on Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine
September 11-17, 2010
Hydra, Greece

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

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – Asia Pacific 2010
September 15-17, 2010
Sydney, Australia

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

Symposium on Advanced Wound Care
September 23-25, 2010
Anaheim, United States

4th International Conference on Biofabrication
October 4-6, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

NEW bone-tec 2010 – International Bone-Tissue-Engineering Congress
October, 7-10 2010
Hannover, Germany

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

BioStar 2010 – 4th Congress on Regenerative Biology and Medicine
October 13-15, 2010
Stuttgart, Germany

American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB) 2010 Biennial Meeting
October 24-27, 2010
Charleston, United States

Select Biosciences 2nd Annual Lab-on-a-Chip World Congress
October 28-29, 2010
San Diego, United States

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

Select Biosciences 2nd International Forum on Stem Cells (2010 IFSC)
November 12-13, 2010
Tianjin, China

Medica 2010
November 17-20, 2010
Dusseldorf, Germany

Translational Excellence in Regenerative Medicine – Biophysical Stimuli and Mass Transport for Tissue Development
November 18-19, 2010
Lattrop, The Netherlands

NEW First Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies (BSRT) PhD Symposium
December 1-3, 2010
Berlin, Germany

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – North America 2010 Annual Conference
December 5-8, 2010
Orlando, United States

50th Anniversary American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting
December 11-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

NEW Epithelial Plasticity and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
January 21-26, 2011
Vancouver, Canada

Select Biosciences 5th Annual Stem Cells World Congress
January 24-25, 2011
San Diego, United States

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Recruit Top Talent
Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities with Cell Therapy News.
Visit here to post your career opportunities.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Extracellular Matrix News? Click here to submit!

 
Comments or Suggestions? Email info@connexoncreative.com with your feedback.