Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.13 | Jul 29 2010

Roles of Epithelial Cell-Derived Periostin in TGF-Beta Activation, Collagen Production, and Collagen Gel Elasticity in Asthma 
By using in situ hybridization, researchers show that periostin is specifically up-regulated in bronchial epithelial cells of asthmatic subjects, and in vitro, the periostin protein is basally secreted by airway epithelial cells in response to IL-13 to influence epithelial cell function, epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, and extracellular matrix organization. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

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On Chip Tissue Testing
Researchers have designed a microfluidic device that can maintain tissue cultures for at least three days. [Press release from RSC Publishing discussing online prepublication in Analytical Methods]

Enhanced Proteolytic Degradation of Molecularly Engineered PEG Hydrogels in Response to MMP-1 and MMP-2
Fibroblasts showed increased cell spreading and proliferation when cultured in 3D hydrogels with faster degrading peptides, and more cell invasion from aortic ring segments embedded in the hydrogels was observed. [Biomaterials]

Synthesized Basement Membranes Direct the Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells into Pancreatic Lineages
Researchers show that the endoderm-inducing activity of M15 cells is in part mediated through the extracellular matrices, and that laminin alpha5 is one of the crucial components. [J Cell Sci]

Short Bouts of Mechanical Loading are as Effective as Dexamethasone at Inducing Matrix Production by Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell
Researchers investigated the effects of dynamic compressive loading on differentiation and mineralized matrix production of human mesenchymal stem cells in 3D polyurethane scaffolds, using a loading regimen previously shown to stimulate mineralized matrix production of mature bone cells. [ Eur Cell Mater]

Development of Cell Based Immunoassays to Measure Type I Collagen in Cultured Fibroblasts
Researchers describe two new cell based assays to directly quantify the amount of collagen I incorporated into the extracellular matrix of primary human lung fibroblasts. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol]

Involvement of Caveolin-1 in Fibronectin-Induced Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation: Role of FAK, RhoA, PI3K/Akt, and ERK 1/2 Pathways
Researchers conclude that fibronectin stimulates mouse embryonic stem cell proliferation via RhoA-PI3K/Akt-ERK 1/2 pathway through caveolin-1 phosphorylation. [J Cell Physiol]

Phosphorylation of Ser 21 in Fyn Regulates Its Kinase Activity, Focal Adhesion Targeting and Is Required for Cell Migration
Findings indicate that phosphorylation of serine 21 within the pPKA recognition site (RxxS motif) of Fyn regulates its tyrosine kinase activity and controls focal adhesion targeting, and that this residue of Fyn is critical for transduction of signals arising from cell-extracellular matrix interactions. [J Cell Physiol]

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Can Play Unique and Opposing Roles in Regulating the Morphology of Differentiating Oligodendrocytes
Researchers report that FAK can regulate the morphology of differentiating post-migratory premyelinating oligodendrocytes in a unique and opposing fashion that is dependent on the nature of the extracellular matrix and mediated largely by FAK’s catalytic activity. [J Neurochem]

Characterization of Human Fibroblast-Derived Extracellular Matrix Components for Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Propagation
The study forms the basis for identification of appropriate extracellular matrix components in a substrate that synergistically promotes activation of adhesion and signaling pathways responsible for human pluripotent stem cell self-renewal. [Acta Biomater]

Microelastic Properties of Lung Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix
Researchers utilized atomic force microscopy to characterize the microelastic properties of decellularized cell-derived matrix from human pulmonary fibroblasts. [Acta Biomater]

A Microfluidic Device for Tissue Biopsy Culture and Interrogation
Researchers report the development of a microfluidic device capable of maintaining the long-term culture of viable tissue biopsies. Tissue-based models will enable evaluation of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions within multi-cellular systems. [Anal Methods]

USF, Jackson to Partner on Biomedical Village
Jackson Laboratory is launching a biomedical research and education village in Collier County, and the University of South Florida (USF) is its first medical partner. [University of South Florida Press Release]

International Stem Cell Plans $10 Million Financing Through European Subsidiary
International Stem Cell Corporation announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ARG Vermogensverwaltung AG, a German Investment Fund, to create a new European subsidiary to be funded with up to $10 million of capital derived from ARG and other independent sources in Europe. [International Stem Cell Corporation Press Release]

British Companies to Receive Support to Develop New Regenerative Medicine Products and Technologies
The government-backed Technology Strategy Board is to invest over £5 million to support the research and development in the UK of new regenerative medicine products, tools and technologies. 16 research and development projects in the field of regenerative medicine therapeutics are to receive a total of £3.6 million of investment, while a further £1.6 million is to be invested in 12 feasibility studies in the area of regenerative medicine tools and technologies. [Technology Strategy Board Press Release]

Pentagon Pushes for Near-Perfect Regenerative Medicine
The Office of the Secretary of Defense is soliciting small business proposals for two new projects to transform the regeneration of damaged tissue and cartilage. [Wired News]

New Health Care Leaders Named
News outlets report on new leadership appointments at key health care groups. [The Medical News]

Finance Secretary for Scotland Explores the Options of Jobs in Life Sciences
Finance Secretary John Swinney met with senior managers at Merck MSD in Newhouse to explore options to protect and sustain employment in the area. [eGov Monitor]

Think Tank Calls for FDA to Forgo Approval of Drugs Cleared by European Regulator
The free-market Pacific Research Institute argues in a new report that American patients would benefit if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) didn’t have a monopoly on regulations. [The Hill]

Senate Spending Panel Approves $1 Billion Boost for NIH
A Senate subcommittee matched President Barack Obama’s request for a $1 billion increase in 2011 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). That raise would bring the agency’s total budget to $32 billion, or 3.5% above the 2010 level, according to a statement from the Senate appropriations labor, health, and human services subcommittee. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Takes on New Role in Fight Against Rare Diseases
A government program focusing on rare diseases, the Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases (TRND) program, has launched five pilot projects that are taking the National Institutes of Health in a new direction: developing drugs. TRND will work together with scientists, advocates and others to do the required research and testing on drugs before a compound can be tried in humans in a clinical trial. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Asks for Input on Closing Loophole in Conflict-of-Interest Rule
Responding to yet another flap about the influence of drug companies on biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has decided it needs more time to revise its rules for policing conflicts of interest so that sanctions will move with an investigator if he or she changes institutions. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

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 the Director; Notice of Closed Meeting (Doc. 2010-18496) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting (Doc. 2010-18088) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (Doc. 2010-18052) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Instrument Development for Biomedical Applications (R21) (RFA-RR-10-009) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Bioengineering Research Partnerships (BRP)[R01] (PAR-10-234) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Program Project (P01) Applications (PAR-10-233) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW Phacilitate 7th Annual Cell & Gene Therapy Forum 2011
January 24-26, 2011
Washington, DC, United States

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

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