Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.14 | Apr 18 2019

TOP STORY

3D Printing of Personalized Thick and Perfusable Cardiac Patches and Hearts

A simple approach to 3D-print thick, vascularized, and perfusable cardiac patches that completely match the immunological, cellular, biochemical, and anatomical properties of a patient is reported. [Adv Sci] Abstract | Editorial

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Immobilized Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 in a Stiffness-Tunable Artificial Extracellular Matrix Enhances Mechanotransduction in the Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Either soft matrix with immobilized transforming growth factor-beta 1 (i-TGF) or bare stiff matrix could only promote hepatocellular carcinoma cells to form the epithelial phenotype, whereas stiff matrix with i-TGF was the only condition to induce the mesenchymal phenotype. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Aligned Brain Extracellular Matrix Promotes Differentiation and Myelination of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocytes

Co-culture of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived oligodendrocytes (iPSC-OL) with induced neuronal (iN) cells on brain ECM substrates, which closely mimicked the in vivo brain microenvironment for myelinated neurons, not only enhanced myelination of iPSC-OL, but also improved electrophysiological function of iN cells. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

Determinants of Tenascin-C and HIV-1 Envelope Binding and Neutralization

Scientists characterized the specific determinants of the interaction between tenascin-C (TNC) and the HIV-1 envelope. They observed that TNC binding and neutralization of HIV-1 was dependent on the TNC fibrinogen-like globe and fibronectin-type III domains, oligomerization, and its newly-mapped glycan structure. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Shear-Induced Alignment of Collagen Fibrils Using 3D Cell Printing for Corneal Stroma Tissue Engineering

Researchers introduce a transparent bioengineered corneal structure for transplantation. The structure was fabricated by inducing shear stress to a corneal stroma-derived decellularized ECM bioink based on 3D cell-printing technique. [Biofabrication] Abstract

Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Bioinks and the External Stimuli to Enhance Cardiac Tissue Development In Vitro

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation revealed enhanced maturation of cardiomyocytes in heart tissue-derived ECM (hdECM), unlike the collagen group under similar culture conditions. Specifically, 3D-printed engineered heart tissue using a low concentration of hdECM promoted early differentiation of cardiomyocytes. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Baicalein Inhibits Fibronectin-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Decreasing Activation and Upregulation of Calpain-2

Baicalein inhibited fibronectin (FN)-induced migration, invasion, and F-actin remodeling. Baicalein also suppressed FN-induced downregulation of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1 and upregulation of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Loss of the Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Glypican5 Facilitates Long-Range Shh Signaling

Using mouse embryonic stem cell-derived mosaic tissues with compartments that lack the glycosyltransferases Exostosin (Ext)1 and Ext2, or the heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein Glypican5, the authors showed that sonic hedgehog (Shh) accumulated around its source cells when they are surrounded by cells that have a mutated ECM. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Enabling Cell Recovery from 3D Cell Culture Microfluidic Devices for Tumor Microenvironment Biomarker Profiling

Investigators developed a quick and straightforward collagenase-based enzymatic method to recover cells embedded in a 3D hydrogel in a microfluidic device with no impact on cell viability. They demonstrated the validity of this method on two different cell lines in a tumor microenvironment microfluidic model. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Activation of Immune Responses against the Basement Membrane Component Collagen Type IV Does Not Affect the Development of Atherosclerosis in ApoE-Deficient Mice

Researchers hypothesized that immune responses against collagen type IV could contribute to vascular injury affecting the development of atherosclerosis. To investigate this possibility, they induced an antibody-response against collagen type IV in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Dermatopontin in Skeletal Muscle Extracellular Matrix Regulates Myogenesis

Scientists explored the role of dermatopontin in myogenesis and perceived that it enhanced cell adhesion, reduced cell proliferation and promoted myoblast differentiation in C2C12 cells. They revealed an inhibitory effect with fibronectin in myoblast differentiation. [Cells] Abstract

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The Extracellular Matrix in Tumor Progression and Metastasis

Translational application of knowledge about the cancer-primed ECM is sparse with respect to therapeutic approaches, whereas tumor-induced ECM alterations such as increased tissue stiffness and desmoplasia, as well as breaching the basement membrane are hallmark of malignancy and diagnostically and histologically harnessed. [Clin Exp Metastasis] Abstract

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

Fibrocell Announces Collaboration with Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals to Develop and Commercialize FCX-007 Gene Therapy

Fibrocell Science, Inc. announced the completion of a collaboration agreement with Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize Fibrocell’s lead gene therapy candidate, FCX-007, for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. FCX-007 is a genetically-modified autologous fibroblast that encodes the gene for type VII collagen. [Fibrocell Science, Inc.] Press Release

Ndalo Therapeutics Initiates Dosing in Phase I Clinical Trial of Lead Antifibrotic Drug Candidate IDL-2965

Indalo Therapeutics announced the first healthy volunteer has been dosed in a Phase I clinical trial of the company’s lead drug candidate IDL-2965. IDL-2965 is an oral, selective antagonist of avb1, avb3, and avb6 that uniquely inhibits multiple fibrogenic processes, including the local activation of TGF-b as well as the ability of stiff ECM to promote fibroblast migration and survival. [Indalo Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Collagen Matrix, Inc. Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance of a Bioactive Moldable Bone Graft Matrix

Collagen Matrix, Inc. announced the FDA 510(k) clearance of its innovative line of Mineral Collagen Composite Bioactive Moldable Bone Graft Matrix through its Spine business unit. The matrix is an osteoconductive, bioactive, porous implant that allows for bony ingrowth across the graft site. [Collagen Matrix, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

How US-China Political Tensions Are Affecting Science

In the latest twist, several US universities are expected this month to announce the actions they have taken against foreign scientists caught breaking rules concerning National Institutes of Health funding, according to comments made by agency director Francis Collins to the Senate Appropriations Committee. [Nature News] Editorial

‘Friendly’ Reviewers Rate Grant Applications More Highly

Peer reviewers are four times more likely to give a grant application an “excellent” or “outstanding” score rather than a “poor” or “good” one when they are chosen by the grant’s applicants, an analysis of Swiss funding applications has found. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The Matricellular Proteins in Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation Conference
July 14-19, 2019
Lisbon, Portugal

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

NEW Lecturer – Stem Cell Biology/Regenerative Medicine (The University of Manchester)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering (Karolinska Institutet)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Ligand and Integrin Therapeutics (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Gene Function in Fibrosis & Wound Healing (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation)

Research Scientist – Therapeutics Discovery Division (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Tenure-Track Lecturer – Molecular Biology (University of Cyprus)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Tissue Engineering (BioTis)

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

Faculty Position – Department of Bioengineering (University of Pittsburgh)

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

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