Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.18 | Sep 2 2010

FGF Receptor-4 (FGFR4) Polymorphism Acts as an Activity Switch of a Membrane Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase-FGFR4 Complex 
Using a systematic gain-of-function kinome screen for membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) activity, researchers have here identified kinases that significantly enhance MT1-MMP activity in tumor cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Seeing the World with New Eyes: Biosynthetic Corneas Restore Vision in Humans
A new study has shown that biosynthetic corneas can help regenerate and repair damaged eye tissue and improve vision in humans. [Press release from Linköping University discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine]

Helicoidal Multi-Lamellar Features of RGD-Functionalized Silk Biomaterials for Corneal Tissue Engineering
A strategy for corneal tissue engineering was pursued to replicate the structural hierarchy of human corneal stroma within thin stacks of lamellae-like tissues, in this case constructed from scaffolds constructed with RGD-coupled, patterned, porous, mechanically robust and transparent silk films. [Biomaterials]

Relations of Biomarkers of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling to Incident Cardiovascular Events and Mortality
Higher circulating tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and procollagen type III aminoterminal peptide (PIIINP) concentrations are associated with mortality, and higher PIIINP is associated with incident cardiovascular disease. [Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol]

siRNA Nanoparticle Functionalization of Nanostructured Scaffolds Enables Controlled Multilineage Differentiation of Stem Cells
Different nanoparticles localized to spatially distinct locations within a single implant allowed two different tissue types to develop in controllable areas of an implant. [Mol Ther]

BAS/BSCR9 Proteomic Characterization of Extracellular Space Components in the Human Aorta
Researchers developed a novel methodology for the extraction and identification of extracellular proteins from human aortas. [Heart]

Gel Structure Impacts Pericellular and Extracellular Matrix Deposition Which Subsequently Alters Metabolic Activities in Chondrocyte-Laden PEG Hydrogels
Findings indicate that chondrocytes synthesize the major cartilage components within PEG hydrogels, however, gel structure strongly impacts the composition and spatial organization of the neo-tissue and impacts how chondrocytes respond to their environment, particularly with respect to their catabolic expressions. [Acta Biomater]

Enhanced Regeneration of Poly(L-Lactide-Co-Epsilon-Caprolactone) Scaffold to Ligament-to-Bone Interface by Local Delivery of Cells/BMP-2 Using a Heparin-Based Hydrogel
The use of heparin-based hydrogel in local delivery of fibrochondrocytes and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) could accelerate the maturation and differentiation of ligament-to-bone-specific fibrocartilage (FC) tissues, and it was also possible to recreate the unique stratification of calcified FC and ligament tissues on a single porous PLCL scaffold in terms of both biochemical and biomechanical properties. [Acta Biomater]

Macrophage Podosomes Go 3D
Using a gelled collagen I 3D matrix model to obligate human macrophages to perform mesenchymal migration, classical podosome markers including talin, paxillin, vinculin, gelsolin, cortactin were found to accumulate at the tip of F-actin-rich cell protrusions together with beta1 integrin and CD44 but not beta2 integrin. [Eur J Cell Biol]

Fabrication of Bioactive Composite Scaffolds by Electrospinning for Bone Regeneration
Researchers prepared electrospun bioactive composite scaffolds combining hydroxyapatite, collagen and a synthetic polymer, PolyActive™, to mimic naturally occurring extracellular matrix for in situ bone regeneration. [Macromol Biosci]

The Matrix-Binding Domain of Microfibril-Associated Glycoprotein-1 Targets Active Connective Tissue Growth Factor to a Fibroblast-Produced Extracellular Matrix
Using a matrix-binding domain (MBD) from microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1, the fusion protein MBD-connective tissue growth factor was targeted to the extracellular matrix and tested for COL1A1 transcriptional activation. [Macromol Biosci]

Porous Poly(vinyl Alcohol)-Hydrogel Matrix-Engineered Bio-Synthetic Cartilage
Results demonstrate that porous poly(vinyl alcohol) in combination with fibrin gel and chondrocytes provides a favorable microenvironment for tissue engineering of articular cartilage, creating a bio-synthetic construct that can adhere to native devitalized articular cartilage utilizing hydrogel matrix-engineered technology. [Tissue Eng Part A]

A Biosynthetic Alternative to Human Donor Tissue for Inducing Corneal Regeneration: 24-Month Follow-Up of a Phase I Clinical Study
Researchers conducted a Phase I clinical study in which biosynthetic mimics of corneal extracellular matrix were implanted to replace the pathologic anterior cornea of 10 patients who had significant vision loss, with the aim of facilitating endogenous tissue regeneration without the use of human donor tissue. [Sci Transl Med]

Roche and Aileron Enter Multi-Target Alliance to Develop Stapled Peptide Drugs for Diseases Across Multiple Therapeutic Areas
Aileron Therapeutics and Roche announced that they have entered into a collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize a new class of drugs called Stapled Peptide Therapeutics. [Aileron Therapeutics Press Release]

Genzyme Confirms Receipt of Unsolicited Proposal
Genzyme Corp. confirmed that it has received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Sanofi-Aventis to acquire all the outstanding shares of Genzyme for $69 per share in cash. The Genzyme board of directors unanimously affirmed its previous rejection of Sanofi’s proposal. [Genzyme Press Release]

Halozyme Provides HYLENEX® Product Reintroduction Update
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced the completion of its root cause investigation regarding HYLENEX manufacturing and has identified a corrective action plan and regulatory strategy to reintroduce HYLENEX to the market. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

Stromedix Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for STX-100 for the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Stromedix, Inc. announced that its lead clinical candidate STX-100 has been granted orphan drug status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. [Stromedix, Inc. Press Release]

Obama Administration Appeals Stem Cell Injunction
The Obama administration appealed a ruling that blocked federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and asked the judge who issued the injunction to put it on hold pending the appeal. [Administration, United States]

NIH Orders Immediate Shutdown of Intramural Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Responding to a court order, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ordered intramural researchers studying human embryonic stem cells to shut down their experiments. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Asks Judge to Suspend Stem Cell Research Injunction
Warning of a “devastating impact” on ongoing research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) asked a federal court to stay a preliminary injunction that last week forced NIH to suspend future grant payments to study human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and shut down its in-house research on hESCs. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Director’s Response to Stem Cell Injunction [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Status of Applications and Awards Involving Human Embryonic Stem Cells, and Submissions of Stem Cell Lines for Eligibility Consideration (NOT-OD-10-126) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Request for Comments on Synthetic Biology (FR Doc. 2010-21359)  [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
 
Notice of Meeting: Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (FR Doc. 2010-21532) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
 
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-20861) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-21357) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-21282) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
National Center for Research Resources; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-21280) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Public Workshop on Cell and Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Pediatric Populations [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Untied States]
 
Guidance for Industry: Electronic Submission of Lot Distribution Reports for Biological Products [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Untied States]

Food and Drug Administration Clinical Trial Requirements, Regulations, Compliance, and Good Clinical Practice; Public Workshop [FR Doc. 2010-20834] [Food and Drug Administration, 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

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

BioMalaysia 2010 Conference and Exhibition
November 2-4, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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

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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