Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.27 | Nov 4 2010

Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Microvascular Grafts for Cardiac Tissue Preservation After Myocardial Infarction  
Researchers present use of a synthetic, injectable matrix metalloproteinase-responsive, bioactive hydrogel as an in situ forming scaffold to deliver thymosin beta4, a pro-angiogenic and pro-survival factor, along with vascular cells derived from human embryonic stem cells in ischemic injuries to the heart in a rat model. [Biomaterials]

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Antibiotic Could Be the Key to Treating Heart Ailments
In many types of heart disease titin is cut into pieces inside the heart. This is dangerous because titin is a major contributor in the heart’s filling and pumping action. Researchers discovered that a molecule found in the heart muscle, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), is cutting titin. Targeting MMP2 can be done by using the tetracycline family of drugs, known for their effectiveness as antibiotics and also used for acne sufferers. [Press release from the University of Alberta discussing online prepublication in Circulation]
 
Bioengineered Human Liver
Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine demonstrated the generation of a bioengineered human liver organoid using a liver bioscaffold made from an intact liver extracellular matrix, and seeded with primary human liver progenitor and endothelial cells. [American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Press Release]

Titin is a Target of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2. Implications in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Matrix metalloproteinase-2 localizes to titin at the Z-disk region of the cardiac sarcomere and contributes to titin degradation in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. [Circulation]
 
Biodegradable Collagen Patch with Covalently Immobilized VEGF for Myocardial Repair
Vascularization of engineered tissues in vitro and in vivo remains a key problem in translation of engineered tissues to clinical practice. Growth factor signaling can be prolonged by covalent tethering, thus researchers hypothesized that covalent immobilization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-165) to a porous collagen scaffold will enable rapid vascularization in vivo. [Biomaterials]

Differential Affinity of Vitronectin Versus Collagen for Synthetic Biodegradable Scaffolds for Urethroplastic Applications
The evidence indicates the concept that vitronectin > type IV collagen > type I collagen are preferred adsorption proteins for porous poly(ester urethane) with a poly(caprolactone) soft segment and poly-(96% L/4% D)-lactic acid. [Biomaterials]

Hierarchical and Non-Hierarchical Mineralization of Collagen
Researchers report the use of small inorganic polyphosphate molecules to template hierarchical intrafibrillar apatite assembly in reconstituted collagen in the presence of polyacrylic acid to sequester calcium and phosphate into transient amorphous nanophases. [Biomaterials]

Inhibition of Nuclear Factor KappaB (NF-KappaB) Regresses Cardiac Hypertrophy by Modulating the Expression of Extracellular Matrix and Adhesion Molecules
Using the transgenic mouse model (Myo-Tg), data showed upregulation of profibrotic genes (including collagen type I, collagen type III, connective tissue growth factor and fibronectin) in Myo-Tg mice compared to wild-type mice during the progression of cardiac hypertrophy. [Free Radic Biol Med]

Identification of Binding Partners Interacting with the Alpha1-N-Propeptide of Type V Collagen
Type V collagen controls collagen fibrillogenesis through its conserved Alpha1(V)-amino(N)-propeptide domain. To gain insight into the role of this domain, a yeast-two-hybrid screen among proteins expressed in human dermal fibroblasts was performed utilizing the amino(N)-propeptide as a bait. Researchers identified 12 interacting proteins including extracellular matrix proteins and proteins involved in collagen biosynthesis. [Biochem J]
 
Comparison of Three Methods for the Derivation of a Biologic Scaffold Composed of Adipose Tissue Extracellular Matrix
Results show that each of the decellularization methods produced an adipose extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold that was distinct from both a structural and biochemical perspective, emphasizing the importance of the decellularization protocol used to produce adipose ECM scaffolds. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods]
 
Mechanical Forces Regulate Elastase Activity and Binding Site Availability in Lung Elastin
Researchers report that physiologically relevant macroscopic mechanical forces modify enzyme activity at the molecular level in the extracellular matrix of the lung parenchyma. [Biophys J]
 
Substrate Stiffness Regulates Apoptosis and the mRNA Expression of Extracellular Matrix Regulatory Genes in the Rat Annular Cells
Researchers studied the influence of substrate stiffness on cell morphology, apoptosis and extracellular matrix metabolism of the rat annulus fibrosus cells which are known to be mechanosensitive cells. [Matrix Biol]

Collagen Binding Specificity of the Discoidin Domain Receptors: Binding Sites on Collagens II and III and Molecular Determinants for Collagen IV Recognition by DDR1
Researchers previously identified GVMGFO (O is hydroxyproline) as a major discoidin domain receptor (DDR)-2 binding site in collagens I-III, and located two additional DDR2 binding sites in collagen II. Here they extend these studies to the homologous DDR1 and the identification of DDR binding sites on collagen III. [Matrix Biol]

MMPs Are Less Efficient Than ADAMTS5 in Cleaving Aggrecan Core Protein
Results showed that the delayed activation of pro- matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the relatively low cleavage efficiency of MMPs can explain the minor contribution of these enzymes to aggrecan catabolism in vivo. [Matrix Biol]

Halozyme Therapeutics Awarded Four Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Grants
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced the award of four grants totaling $977,917 under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project program. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]
 
Derma Sciences Awarded $244,479 from U.S. Government Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Derma Sciences, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a research and development grant of $244,479 from the U.S. government under HR: 3590 — Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in immediately available funds. [Derma Sciences, Inc. Press Release]

InVivo Therapeutics Opens New Manufacturing and Development Facility in Medford, Massachusetts to Support First Human Clinical Trial
InVivo Therapeutics Corporation announced that it has signed a lease to open its first manufacturing and development facility in Medford, Massachusetts. [InVivo Therapeutics Corporation Press Release]

NIH Introduces Images, a Database of Images in Biomedical Literature
More than 2.5 million images and figures from medical and life sciences journals are now available through Images, a new resource for finding images in biomedical literature. [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request (FR Doc. 2010-27842) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, Guidance for Industry on Pharmacogenomic Data Submissions; Extension [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0536] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
 
Guidance for Industry: Cellular Therapy for Cardiac Disease; Availability [Docket No. FDA-2009-D-0132] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
 
Change in Application Receipt Dates for AHRQ Large or Recurring Conference Grant Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) PAR-09-257 (NOT-HS-11-001) [Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-27325) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-27743) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-27410) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

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