SCIENCE NEWS Scientists Turn Stem Cells into Cells for Cartilage Repair Researchers took human embryonic stem cells and developed a culture procedure involving a precise sequential program of conditions to specifically produce chondrocytes. [Press release from The University of Manchester discussing online prepublication in Nature Biotechnology] Wake-Up Call: Researchers Find Sleepy Fibroblasts Are Surprisingly Lively Fibroblasts long have been viewed by scientists as crucial but dull, quietly performing their essential function of providing the structural framework for tissue. But now, a team of scientists has discovered that while these unassuming cells are in “sleep” mode, they actually are working much harder than previously thought to fend off destructive chemicals. [Press release from Princeton University discussing online prepublication in PLoS Biology]
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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal) Quiescent Fibroblasts Exhibit High Metabolic Activity Quiescent fibroblasts, relieved of the biosynthetic requirements associated with generating progeny, direct their metabolic activity to preservation of self integrity and alternative functions beneficial to the organism as a whole. [PLoS Biol] LKB1 Inhibits Lung Cancer Progression Through Lysyl Oxidase and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Findings provide evidence of how LKB1 loss of function promotes lung cancer malignancy through remodeling of extracellular matrix microenvironment, and identify lysyl oxidase as a potential target for disease treatment in lung cancer patients. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] Bioengineering of Living Renal Membranes Consisting of Hierarchical, Bioactive Supramolecular Meshes and Human Tubular Cells Researchers report on a bottom-up approach based on hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers and extracellular matrix-peptides to make an electro-spun, bioactive supramolecular mesh which can be applied as synthetic basement membrane. [Biomaterials] Expression of Integrin Beta1 by Fibroblasts Is Required for Tissue Repair In Vivo Researchers show that mice containing a fibroblast-specific deletion of integrin beta1 exhibit delayed cutaneous wound closure and less granulation tissue formation, including reduced production of new extracellular matrix and reduced expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin. [J Cell Sci] Mast Cell Fibroblastoid Differentiation Mediated by Airway Smooth Muscle in Asthma Data indicate that in asthma, airway smooth muscle-derived extracellular matrix proteins mediate human mast cell transition to a fibroblastoid phenotype, suggesting that this may be pivotal in the development of airway dysfunction in asthma. [J Immunol] ErbB2 Stabilizes Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Expression via Erk and Sprouty2 in Extracellular Matrix Detached Cells Researchers show that loss of extracellular matrix (ECM) attachment causes downregulation of EGFR and beta1 integrin protein and mRNA expression and that ErbB2, which is amplified in 25% of breast tumors, reverses these effects of ECM deprivation. [J Biol Chem] Proline Periodicity Modulates the Self-Assembly Properties of Elastin-Like Polypeptides Data strongly support a model where proline-poor regions of the elastin monomer provide a unique contribution to assembly, and suggest a role for localized beta-sheet in mediating self-assembly interactions. [J Biol Chem] Fibroblast Cytoskeletal Remodeling Contributes to Connective Tissue Tension Fibroblasts within areolar connective tissue exhibit dynamic cytoskeletal remodeling within minutes in response to tissue stretch ex vivo and in vivo . Here, researchers tested the hypothesis that fibroblasts, through this cytoskeletal remodeling, actively contribute to the viscoelastic behavior of the whole tissue. [J Cell Physiol] Exploring Cellular Contact Guidance Using Gradient Nanogratings Researchers developed a strategy to fabricate controlled substrates with a wide range of pattern shapes and surface chemistries and to separate surface chemistry and topography effects. [Biomacromolecules] Biomaterials from Ultrasonication-Induced Silk Fibroin-Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels Researchers report formation of biocompatible hydrogels using physically cross-linked biopolymers. Gelation of silk fibroin (from B. mori silkworm) aqueous solution was effected by ultrasonication and used to entrap blended, un-cross-linked, hyaluronic acid without chemical cross-linking. [Biomacromolecules] Adrenomedullin Increases Fibroblast-Like Synoviocyte Adhesion to Extracellular Matrix Proteins by Upregulating Integrin Activation Researchers investigated whether adrenomedullin mediated fibroblast-like synoviocyte adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. [Arthritis Res Ther]
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POLICY NEWS Cancer Chief Varmus Draws Up a List of Unsolved Mysteries Harold Varmus has made a start on one of his first priorities as chief of the U.S. National Cancer Institute: coming up with a set of key unanswered questions. [National Cancer Institute, United States] FDA Writes Prescription for IT Innovation The Food and Drug Administration is prioritizing IT as part of its five-year strategic plan, including accelerating a program to build innovative devices to improve field and laboratory analysis. [Food and Drug Administration, United States] Partnerships To Advance the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) (FR Doc. 2010-25973) [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States] Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26362) [National Institutes of Health, United States] Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26363) [National Institutes of Health, United States] Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26317) [National Institutes of Health, United States] Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26028) [National Institutes of Health, United States] Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26033) [National Institutes of Health, United States] National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26390) [National Institutes of Health, United States] National Cancer Institute; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26032) [National Institutes of Health, United States] National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26035) [National Institutes of Health, United States] National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26037) [National Institutes of Health, United States] National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26075) [National Institutes of Health, United States] Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26036) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
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EVENTS (Listed by Date) American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB) 2010 Biennial Meeting October 24-27, 2010 Charleston, United States Frontiers in Tumour Progression October 24-27, 2010 Madrid, Spain 3rd Annual Dubai Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine (DCAAAM) October 26-27, 2010 Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2nd Annual Stem Cells Asia and Regenerative Medicine Congress October 26-28, 2010 Seoul, Korea Select Biosciences 2nd Annual Lab-on-a-Chip World Congress October 28-29, 2010 San Diego, United States Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium Leipzig 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 8th Annual Commercial Translation of Regenerative Medicine Conference November 18-19, 2010 London, United Kingdom Translational Excellence in Regenerative Medicine (TeRM) – Biophysical Stimuli and Mass Transport for Tissue Development November 18-19, 2010 Lattrop, The Netherlands Stem Cell Network’s 10th Annual Scientific Meeting November 22-24, 2010 Calgary, Alberta First Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies (BSRT) PhD Symposium December 1-3, 2010 Berlin, Germany NEW 2nd European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) Meeting on Cardiac and Pulmonary Regeneration December 3-4, 2010 Vienna, Austria Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society – North America (TERMIS-NA) 2010 Annual Conference December 5-8, 2010 Orlando, United States The American Society for Cell Biology 50th Annual Meeting December 11-15, 2010 Philadelphia, United States Epithelial Plasticity and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition January 21-26, 2011 Vancouver, Canada Extracellular Matrix and Cardiovascular Remodeling January 23-28, 2011 Tahoe City, United States Select Biosciences 5th Annual Stem Cells World Congress January 24-25, 2011 San Diego, United States BIO Asia International Partnering Conference January 24-25, 2011 Tokyo, Japan Phacilitate 7th Annual Cell & Gene Therapy Forum 2011 January 24-26, 2011 Washington, DC, United States AACR-ACS Joint Meeting on Chemistry in Cancer Research: The Biological Chemistry of Inflammation as a Cause of Cancer January 30-February 2, 2011 San Diego, United Sates Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference – Stem Cells: Revolutionizing Regenerative Medicine and Personalized Therapy 2011 February 23-25, 2011 San Francisco, United States Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community. JOB OPPORTUNITIES Clean Room Team Leader – Cellular Therapy (Cell Medica Limited) Recruit Top Talent Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities with Cell Therapy News at no cost. Visit here to post your career opportunities. Have we missed an important article or publication in Extracellular Matrix News? Click here to submit! |
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