Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.04 | Feb 7 2019

TOP STORY

Extracellular Matrix Mechanical Cues Regulate Lipid Metabolism through Lipin-1 and SREBP

Scientists identified synthesis of neutral lipids as a general response to mechanical signals delivered by cell-matrix adhesions. Extracellular physical cues reverberated on the mechanical properties of the golgi apparatus and regulated the lipin-1 phosphatidate phosphatase. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Volume Expansion and TRPV4 Activation Regulate Stem Cell Fate in Three-Dimensional Microenvironments

Researchers found that mesenchymal stem cells in viscoelastic hydrogels exhibited volume expansion during cell spreading, and greater volume expansion was associated with enhanced osteogenesis. Restriction of expansion by either hydrogels with slow stress relaxation or increased osmotic pressure diminished osteogenesis, independent of cell morphology. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Patterned Human Microvascular Grafts Enable Rapid Vascularization and Increase Perfusion in Infarcted Rat Hearts

Investigators report engineered perfusable microvascular constructs, wherein human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cells (hESC-ECs) were seeded both into patterned microchannels and the surrounding collagen matrix. In vitro, the hESC-ECs lining the luminal walls readily sprouted and anastomosed with de novo-formed endothelial tubes in the matrix under flow. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Reversibly Assembled Electroconductive Hydrogel via Host-Guest Interaction for 3D Cell Culture

The cells could be released from the hydrogels by adding the β-cyclodextrin monomer, and the upregulations of most myogenic marker genes under differentiation condition were more remarkable than the non-conductive counterpart. Astonishingly, the conductive hydrogel could dramatically promote myotube-like structure formation, while the myocytes grow into large clusters in the non-electroconductive hydrogel. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

Ureter Tissue Engineering with Vessel Extracellular Matrix and Differentiated Urine-Derived Stem Cells

Differentiated cells were seeded onto vessel ECM and cultured under dynamic conditions in vitro for two weeks. The graft was tubularized and wrapped by two layers of the omentum of a rabbit for vascularization. Then, the maturated graft was used for ureter reconstruction in vivo. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Modifying Decellularized Aortic Valve Scaffolds with Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1α Loaded Proteolytically Degradable Hydrogel for Recellularization and Remolding

Researchers demonstrated that the modified scaffold enhanced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) adhesion, viability and proliferation, and promoted BMSCs to differentiate into valve interstitial-like cells. Furthermore, these modifications led to enhanced protection of the scaffold from thrombosis. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

CEMIP (KIAA1199) Induces a Fibrosis-Like Process in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes

Cell migration-inducing protein (CEMIP) was essential for chondrocyte proliferation and promoted αSMA expression, a fibrosis marker, and TGFβ signaling towards the p-Smad2/3 pathway. Interestingly, CEMIP was induced by the pSmad1/5 pathway. αSMA and type III collagen expressions were overexpressed in human osteoarthritis cartilage and along chondrocytes dedifferentiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Surface Modification of Electrospun Scaffolds for Endothelialization of Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts Using Human Cord Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells

To promote the formation of a healthy endothelial cell monolayer in the lumen of the graft, polycaprolactone/gelatin/fibrinogen scaffolds were developed, and the surface was modified using thermoforming and coating with collagen IV and fibronectin. Human cord blood-derived endothelial cells were seeded onto the scaffolds and the important characteristics of a healthy endothelial cell layer were evaluated under static conditions using human umbilical vein endothelial cells as a control. [J Clin Med] Full Article

Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease IgG Has Differential Effects upon Neutrophil Integrin Activation That Is Modulated by the Endothelium

The authors found that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)- and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-IgG both bound human neutrophils but differentially regulated neutrophil function. RA- and SLE-IgG both increased PMA-induced β1 integrin-mediated adhesion to fibronectin, whilst only SLE-IgG enhanced αMβ2 integrin-mediated adhesion to fibrinogen. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Original Association of Ion Transporters Mediates the ECM-Induced Breast Cancer Cell Survival: Kv10.1-Orai1-SPCA2 Partnership

Secretory pathway Ca²⁺ ATPase (SPCA2) enhanced membrane expression of Kv10.1 and Orai1; the activity of every component of this trio was necessary to mediate store independent calcium entry. Moreover, the three proteins and the collagen receptor DDR1 were overexpressed only in aggressive tumor tissues. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SIRT1 Inhibits Gastric Cancer Proliferation and Metastasis via STAT3/MMP-13 Signaling

Researchers showed that the depletion of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) mediated enhanced cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, and resulted in the enrichment of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), acetylated STAT3, and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

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Hyaluronan: Molecular Size-Dependent Signaling and Biological Functions in Inflammation and Cancer

Investigators present the importance of hyaluronan molecular size on cellular signaling, functional cell properties and morphology in normal and pathological conditions, including inflammation and cancer. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could contribute on the development of therapeutic strategies. [FEBS J] Abstract | Full Article

Roles of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrins and Extracellular Matrix in Stroke

The authors describe the effect that various integrins and ECM components have in embryonic brain development, and how this changes in both maturity and in the poststroke environment. Particular focus is on how these changes in integrins and the ECM affect blood-brain barrier components and their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the extracellular matrix research field.

Bioventus Launches DUROLANE^® in Malaysia and Selects Athrotech as Exclusive Distribution Partner

Bioventus launched DUROLANE, its single-injection joint-fluid osteoarthritis (OA) treatment, in Malaysia and has selected Athrotech as its exclusive distribution partner for the market. Hyaluronic acid-based products like DUROLANE, help manage pain in the knees and hips of patients with OA. [Bioventus] Press Release

Barts Charity Supports ‘Rising Stars’ of Medical Research with £6M Grant

Barts Charity, who support pioneering medical research at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, is granting £6 million to fund the ‘Rising Stars’ lectureship program and support the growth of some of the world’s best young medical researchers. [Queen Mary University of London] Press Release

NIH Asks Inspector General to Investigate 12 Allegations of Foreign Influence in US Research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has referred 12 allegations relating to foreign influence over US-funded research to a federal oversight office, Sen. Chuck Grassley said. Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has repeatedly demanded information from the NIH after the agency revealed in August it was investigating a half-dozen academic institutions — specifically, researchers who may have failed to disclose financial ties to foreign governments. [STAT News] Editorial

University of California Staff Researchers Opt to Form a Union, Joining Postdocs

After five years as a postdoc—four of them at the University of California, Los Angeles—molecular biologist Christina Priest hit the university’s time limit for postdoctoral appointments and transitioned to a university staff position as a project scientist in the same lab. Now an at-will employee in a job with no set end time, she says she finds her work “continuing the project I initiated as a postdoc … not enormously different, [despite] more responsibility.” [Science Careers] Editorial

Thousands of Scientists Run Up against Elsevier’s Paywall

Researchers at German institutions that have let their Elsevier subscriptions lapse while negotiating a new deal are hitting the paywall for the publisher’s most recent articles around 10,000 times a day, according to Elsevier — which publishes more than 400,000 papers each year. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conference: Fibronectin, Integrins & Related Molecules
May 5-10, 2019
Lucca, Italy

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Computational Modeling of Cell-Matrix Interactions (Washington University, St. Louis)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Assistant Professor – Development & Re-Generation of Biological Systems (ETH Zurich)

Research Associate – Microstructure Core Facility Leader (TU Dresden)

Tenure Track Associate Professor – Molecular Cell Biology (Aarhus University)

Tenure Track Assistant Professor – Regenerative Medicine (University of British Columbia)

Associate Senior Lecturer – Molecular Medicine/Regenerative Medicine (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Associate – Planar Cell Polarity (Stony Brook University)

Tenure Track Faculty Position – Department of Pharmacology & Physiology (University of Rochester)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Tissue Fibrosis Resolution (UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute)

Assistant Professor – Sarcoma & Skeletal-Related Malignancies (UC Davis School of Medicine)

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