Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.17 | May 9 2019

TOP STORY

Biologically Inspired Scaffolds for Heart Valve Tissue Engineering via Melt Electrowriting

Scaffolds with precisely-defined serpentine architectures reproduced the J-shaped strain stiffening, anisotropic and viscoelastic behavior of native heart valve leaflets, as demonstrated by quasistatic and dynamic mechanical characterization. They also supported the growth of human vascular smooth muscle cells seeded both directly or encapsulated in fibrin, and promoted the deposition of valvular ECM components. [Small] Abstract

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Noninvasive Imaging of Tumor Progression, Metastasis, and Fibrosis Using a Nanobody Targeting the Extracellular Matrix

To exploit the ECM as an imaging and therapeutic target, scientists developed alpaca-derived libraries of “nanobodies” against disease-associated ECM proteins. They describe one such nanobody, NJB2, specific for an alternatively spliced domain of fibronectin expressed in disease ECM and neovasculature. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

COL4A1 Mutations Cause Neuromuscular Disease with Tissue-Specific Mechanistic Heterogeneity

Investigators report that Col4a1 mutant mice developed progressive neuromuscular pathology that modeled human disease. They demonstrated that independent muscular, neural, and vascular insults contributed to neuromyopathy and that there was mechanistic heterogeneity among tissues. [Am J Hum Genet] Abstract

Extracellular Matrix Geometry and Initial Adhesive Position Determine Stress Fiber Network Organization during Cell Spreading

Three-dimensional matrices often contain highly structured adhesive tracks that require cells to turn corners and bridge non-adhesive areas. The authors investigated these complex processes using micropatterned cell adhesive frames. Spreading kinetics on these matrices depended strongly on initial adhesive position and were predicted by a cellular Potts model, which reflects a balance between adhesion and intracellular tension. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Bardoxolone Ameliorates TGF-β1-Associated Renal Fibrosis through Nrf2/Smad7 Elevation

Researchers investigated the effect of nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2) activation on ECM production and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling using kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-silenced MES-13-cells. [Free Radic Biol Med] Abstract

Supramolecular Modification of a Sequence-Controlled Collagen-Mimicking Polymer

By increasing the degree of ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy)-functionalization on RCPhC1, cardiomyocyte progenitor cells were cultured on “soft” versus “stiff” UPy-RCPhC1 hydrogels. Interestingly, increased stress fiber formation, focal adhesions, and proliferation were observed on stiffer compared to softer substrates, owing to the formation of stronger cell-material interactions. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

Physical and Functional Cell-Matrix Uncoupling in a Developing Tissue under Tension

The authors analyzed the behavior of the peripodial epithelium of the Drosophila leg disc in the light of the dynamics of its cellular and ECM components. During elongation, they found that the ECM and cell layer were progressively uncoupled. [Development] Abstract

Tumor-Derived Laminin α5 (LAMA5) Promotes Colorectal Liver Metastasis Growth, Branching Angiogenesis and Notch Pathway Inhibition

Scientists investigated whether metastatic colon cancer cells produced the laminins required for vascular basement membrane assembly as a mechanism for the promotion of angiogenesis and liver metastasis growth. qPCR was performed using human-specific primers to laminin chains on RNA from orthotopic human colorectal liver metastases. [Cancers] Full Article

MicroRNA-130b Functions as an OncomiRNA in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Targeting Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2

Overexpression of miR-130b promoted invasion and matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity in A549 cells. Argonaute2 immunoprecipitation and gene array analysis identified tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) as a target of miR-130b. Invasion activity promoted by miR-130b was attenuated by TIMP-2 overexpression in A549 cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Evaluation of Two Distinct Placental-Derived Membranes and Their Effect on Tennocyte Responses In Vitro

Both dehydrated amnion/chorion membrane (dACM) and hypothermically-stored amniotic membrane resulted in altered ECM gene expression; dACM grafts alone resulted in increases in collagen deposition. Furthermore, both allografts resulted in altered tenocyte responses to inflammation with reduced TGF-β levels. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

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Adult Neurogenesis, Glia, and the Extracellular Matrix

The authors discuss how the functional consequences of new neurons arise from the collective interactions of presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons, glial cells, and the extracellular matrix, which together form the “tetrapartite synapse.” [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract

The Extracellular Matrix Modulates the Metastatic Journey

Investigators discuss how the tumor matrix regulates metastasis by fostering tumor cell invasion into the stroma and migration toward the vasculature. They describe the role of the tumor matrix in cancer cell intravasation and vascular dissemination. [Dev Cell] Abstract

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

Safety and Efficacy Data from the MIV-711 Phase II Open Label Extension Study Presented

Medivir AB informed that new data from the Phase II program of MIV-711, has been presented as a poster. MIV-711 is a potent and selective inhibitor of cathepsin K, the principal protease involved in breaking down collagen in bone and cartilage. [Press release from Medivir AB discussing research presented at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress, Toronto] Press Release

Abeona Therapeutics Announces Presentation of EB-101 Data

Abeona Therapeutics Inc. announced that long-term follow up data from a completed Phase I/II study evaluating EB-101 for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) will be presented. As previously reported, these data showed that three years after treatment with EB-101, a majority of RDEB patients had durable wound healing. [Press release from Abeona Therapeutics Inc. discussing research presented at the 77^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID), Chicago] Press Release

New Fellows: 50 Top Biomedical and Health Scientists Join the Academy

The Academy of Medical Sciences has elected 50 of the UK’s leading figures within biomedical and health sciences to their esteemed Fellowship, it has been announced. The new Fellows have been selected for their outstanding contributions to advancing medical science, cutting edge research discoveries, and translating developments into benefits for patients and wider society. [The Academy of Medical Sciences] Press Release

‘Gut-on-a-Chip’ Research Aims to Find Personalized Treatment for Crohn’s Disease

For 10 years, Hyun Jung Kim, a biomedical engineering assistant professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, has been developing organs-on-chips, specifically examining inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer. Now, thanks to a new $1.8 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Kim will apply his technology to better understand Crohn’s disease. [The University of Texas at Austin] Press Release

Black Academics Publish One-Fifth of South Africa’s Research

The proportion of scientific articles published by academics in South Africa who are black, colored or of Indian origin has risen almost tenfold since the end of apartheid, to about one-third, finds a report on scholarly publishing in the country. [Nature News] Editorial

White House to Convene Committee to Address Research Obstacles

The leaders of the White House Office of Science and Technology, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy’s science division have formed a committee “to address issues facing the US research community,” President Donald Trump’s administration announced. [The Scientist] Editorial

German Research Promised a Decade of Budget Increases

German research organizations cheered a decision announced by state and federal ministers to increase research budgets by 3% a year for the next decade—a total boost of €17 billion over that time. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Advanced Cell Therapies and Tissue Engineering
November 14-16, 2019
Milan, Italy

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researchers – Hydrogel Chemistry & Kidney Tissue Engineering (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)

NEW Head of School – Biomedical Engineering (University of Sydney)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Renal Extracellular Matrix Research (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – Pathogenesis of Kidney Injurty & Fibrosis (University of Connecticut Health Center)

Associate Professor/Professor – Cell & Molecular Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago)

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

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

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

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Tissue Engineering (BioTis)

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

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