Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.08 | Mar 7 2019

TOP STORY

Collagen Type II Suppresses Articular Chondrocyte Hypertrophy and Osteoarthritis Progression by Promoting Integrin β1-SMAD1 Interaction

Loss of collagen type II (Col2a1) was found to accelerate chondrocyte hypertrophy through the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-SMAD1 pathway. Upon interacting with COL2A1, integrin β1, the major receptor for COL2A1, competed with BMP receptors for binding to SMAD1 and then inhibited SMAD1 activation and nuclear import. [Bone Res] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Therapeutic Resistance and Susceptibility Is Shaped by Cooperative Multi-Compartment Tumor Adaptation

Tumor cell-state changes were coincident with ECM remodeling and increased tumor stiffness, which alone was sufficient to alter tumor cell fate and reduce treatment responses in melanoma cell lines in vitro. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

TGFBI, an ECM Interacting Protein, Enhances Glycolysis and Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Cell Migration

Researchers showed that TGFBI activated the FAK signaling pathway through its binding to integrin αVβ5, leading to a significant enhancement of glycolysis and to the acquisition of an invasive phenotype. They showed that TGFBI silencing significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer tumor development in a chick chorioallantoic membrane assay model. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Polydispersity and Negative Charge Are Key Modulators of Extracellular Matrix Deposition under Macromolecular Crowding Conditions

Scientists evaluated the influence of hydrodynamic radius, charge and polydispersity of various concentrations of different crowders; various molecular weights of different crowders and various cocktails of the same crowders on ECM deposition in human dermal fibroblast culture. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Synergistic Interplay between Human MSCs and HUVECs in 3D Spheroids Laden in Collagen/Fibrin Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering

To enhance stem cell function and generate pre-vascularized network, the authors employed collagen/fibrin hydrogel as an encapsulation matrix for the incorporation of human mesenchymal stem cell/human umbilical vein endothelial cell (MSC/HUVEC) spheroids, and investigated their cellular behavior and compared it to that of cell suspension- or MSC spheroids-laden hydrogels. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

3D Plotted Biphasic Bone Scaffolds for Growth Factor Delivery: Biological Characterization In Vitro and In Vivo

Rat mesenchymal stromal cells were able to adhere and grow on both calcium phosphate cement and alginate/gellan gum strands, and differentiate toward osteoblasts. A sustained vascular endothelial growth factor release was observed, which was able to stimulate endothelial cell proliferation as well as angiogenesis in vitro that indicated maintenance of its biological activity. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

Impact of Hydrogel Elasticity and Adherence on Osteosarcoma Cells and Osteoblasts

The effects of matrix elasticity and adherence on osteosarcoma MG63 cells were investigated using four types of scaffolds with varied adhesion ligands and rigidity, as compared with osteoblast hFOB1.19 cells. MG63 cells on 2D films were sensitive to ECM adherence, similar to the situation of hFOB1.19 cultured in both 2D and 3D. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

DSS-Induced Damage to Basement Membranes Is Repaired by Matrix Replacement and Crosslinking

Researchers used a new damage model to determine that repair required collagen crosslinking and replacement of damaged components. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicated that crosslinking was required to stabilize the newly incorporated repaired collagen IV rather than to stabilize the damaged collagen IV. [J Cell Sci] Abstract

Mouse Mast Cell Protease 4 Suppresses Scar Formation after Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

A degradation assay revealed that mouse mast cell protease 4 (mMCP4) directly cleaved collagen IV in vitro. On the gene expression level, neurocan and GFAP were significantly higher in the mMCP4^−/− group at day 2 and day 28 after injury respectively. In contrast, the expression of fibronectin and collagen IV was reduced in mMCP4^−/− mice compared to WT mice at day seven after spinal cord injury. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Matrix-Bound Nanovesicles Prevent Ischemia-Induced Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Degeneration and Death and Preserve Visual Function

In vitro studies showed matrix-bound nanovesicles suppressed pro-inflammatory signaling by activated microglia and astrocytes, stimulated retinal ganglion cells (RGC) neurite growth, and neuroprotected RGCs from neurotoxic media conditioned by pro-inflammatory astrocytes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Loaded Porous Tantalum Integrated with Biomimetic 3D Collagen-Based Scaffold to Repair Large Osteochondral Defects in Goats

The integrated repair material consisting of porous tantalum (pTa), injectable fibrin sealant, and collagen membrane promoted the adhesion and growth of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and chondrocytes. pTa played an important role in promoting the differentiation of BMSCs into osteoblasts. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Endothelial Cell News & Dermal Cell News.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts’ Functional Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Recent reports describe subsets of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that assume more secretory functions, in addition to the typical myofibroblast phenotype. Here, the authors review the literature and describe the relationship between CAFs and inflammation and the role of the secretory-CAFs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [Cancers] Full Article

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

STEMCELL Technologies Wins Deloitte Best Managed Companies Award

STEMCELL Technologies announced that the company has been selected as a winner of Canada’s Best Managed Companies program for 2019. Canada’s Best Managed Companies is the country’s leading business awards program, recognizing excellence in the management abilities and practices of Canadian owned and managed companies with revenues over $15 million. [STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.] Press Release

MediciNova Announces MN-001 Research Collaboration with the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan

MediciNova, Inc. announced that it will initiate a comprehensive research collaboration to evaluate MN-001 in liver diseases with the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at The Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan. [MediciNova, Inc.] Press Release

NIH Provides $23 Million for Statewide Translational Research Institute

The integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia has been awarded a five-year grant of nearly $23 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance innovative ideas from the point of discovery to implementation in clinical practice and population health. [University of Virginia] Press Release

UK Considers Post-Brexit Research Fund Open to World

The UK government is considering creating an international research fund to fill a gap left by the loss of prestigious European Union funding after Brexit. Adrian Smith, director of the Alan Turing Institute in London, will lead a “major” project with the research community to look at establishing such a fund, UK science minister Chris Skidmore told a parliamentary science committee. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Threatens to Cut Federal Research Funding over Free Speech

At the Conservative Political Action Conference, President Donald Trump promised to sign an executive order cutting off funds to colleges and universities that do not maintain free speech. The president said “it will be very costly” if institutions don’t comply, but he did not give many details about the possible executive order or who would decide if schools were adequately protecting free speech. [The Scientist] Editorial

Head of US Food and Drug Agency Resigns

Scott Gottlieb, the head of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), resigned on 5 March and will depart the agency in one month. [Nature News] Editorial | Opinion

NEW Gordon Research Conference: Tissue Repair & Regeneration
June 9-14, 2019
New London, New Hampshire, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Bone Matrix Research (NUI Galway)

NEW Early Stage Researchers/PhD Positions – Biomechanics in Health & Disease (Phys2BioMed ITN-ETN Network)

NEW Faculty Position – Department of Bioengineering (University of Pittsburgh)

NEW Assistant Professor – Biomedical Research (Michigan State University)

NEW University Lecturers – Molecular & Integrative Sciences (University of Helsinki)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Experimental Systems Biology of Lung Regeneration & Fibrosis (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

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

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

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Extracellular Matrix News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.