Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.27 | Jul 18 2019

TOP STORY

UDP-Glucose 6-Dehydrogenase Regulates Hyaluronic Acid Production and Promotes Breast Cancer Progression

Scientists identified metabolic enzymes involved in ECM remodeling that were upregulated during epithelial-mesenchymal transition and were highly expressed in patients with aggressive mesenchymal-like breast cancer. [Oncogene] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Enhanced Cell-Cell Contact Stability and Decreased N-Cadherin-Mediated Migration upon Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-N-Cadherin Cross Talk

Researchers showed that fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 reduced N-cadherin-mediated cell migration. Both proteins were co-stabilized at cell-cell contacts through direct interaction. [Oncogene] Abstract

Synovial Chondromatosis and Soft Tissue Chondroma: Extraosseous Cartilaginous Tumor Defined by FN1 Gene Rearrangement

RNA sequencing identified a fusion involving fibronectin 1 (FN1) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) in the case of soft tissue chondroma and FISH confirmed recurrent involvement of both FGFR1 and FGFR2. [Mod Pathol] Abstract

Hyaluronan Hydrogels Delivering BMP-6 for Local Targeting of Malignant Plasma Cells and Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Investigators report on a novel approach suitable for local treatment of multiple myeloma based on hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels mimicking the physical properties of bone marrow. The HA hydrogels were complexed with heparin to achieve sustained presentation and controlled release of bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6). [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Manipulation of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Neurite Extension by Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using IKVAV and LRE Peptide Tethering in Hyaluronic Acid Matrices

Laminin derived peptides, IKVAV and LRE, tethered to independent sites in hyaluronic acid matrices using Michael addition and strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition were sufficient to manipulate hyaluronic acid degradation, gelatinase expression and protease expression. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

The Effects of Endothelium-Specific CYP2J2 Overexpression on the Attenuation of Retinal Ganglion Cell Apoptosis in a Glaucoma Rat Model

Senescent endothelial cells resulted in pericyte loss and increased endothelial secretion of matrix metallopeptidase 9, which further contributed to retinal ganglion cell loss. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2J2 overexpression alleviated vascular senescence, pericyte loss, and matrix metallopeptidase 9 secretion. [FASEB J] Abstract

Integrin α7 Expression Is Increased in Asthmatic Patients and Its Inhibition Reduces Kras Protein Abundance in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

Inhibition of the laminin-integrin α7 signaling axis resulted in a reduction in smooth muscle-alpha actin abundance and did not revert airway smooth muscle cells back to a proliferative phenotype. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Syndecan-4 Regulates Extravillous Trophoblast Migration by Coordinating Protein Kinase C Activation

First trimester extravillous trophoblast (EVT) line EVTs exhibited reduced migration and Matrigel-based invasion, both under basal conditions and following exposure to basic fibroblast growth factor and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Interleukin-17 and Matrix Metalloprotease-9 Expression in the Mycetoma Granuloma

Surgical biopsies from 100 patients with confirmed mycetoma were obtained, and interleukin-17 and matrix metalloprotease-9 expression in the mycetoma granuloma were evaluated immunohistochemically. [PLoS Negl Trop Dis] Full Article

Knockdown of FOXM1 Inhibits Activation of Keloid Fibroblasts and Extracellular Matrix Production via Inhibition of Tgf-β1/Smad Pathway

Researchers examined the expression levels of forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) in clinical keloid tissue specimens and primary keloid fibroblasts (KFs). The results showed that FOXM1 levels were significantly increased in both keloid tissues and KFs. [Life Sci] Abstract

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Estrogen Receptor-Mediated Targeting of the Extracellular Matrix Network in Cancer

The authors critically survey the current knowledge on dynamic interactions among estrogen receptors and major ECM macromolecules and effectors, such as growth factor receptors, proteoglycans and matrix metalloproteinases, in respect to their key effects in cancer progression, cancer cell functional properties, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and epigenetics. [Semin Cancer Biol] Abstract

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Engineering Faculty Member Receives Grants Totaling $1.5M for Bioprinting

Ibrahim Tarik Ozbolat, Hartz Family Career Development Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, has received four grants totaling about $1.5 million to explore ways to bioprint biological tissues like bone, lungs and other organs for use as models in a variety of studies. [Pennsylvania State University] Press Release

The Plan to Mine the World’s Research Papers

Carl Malamud is on a crusade to liberate information locked up behind paywalls — and his campaigns have scored many victories. Now, the 60-year-old American technologist is turning his sights on a new objective: freeing paywalled scientific literature. And he thinks he has a legal way to do it. [Nature News] Editorial

Virologists Escorted Out of Lab in Canada

Canada’s national police force is investigating “possible policy breaches” after researchers were escorted from a lab at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, CBC News reported. Prominent virologist Xiangguo Qiu, her colleague and husband Keding Cheng, and an unknown number of her students from China were removed from the lab. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Fibrosis and Tissue Repair: From Molecules and Mechanics to Therapeutic Approaches
February 19-23, 2020
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Extracellular Matrix of Brain Vessels (Inserm)

NEW Research Fellow – Lectin Biochemistry (University of Leeds)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

PhD Position – Extracellular Matrix & Skin Immunology (University of Freiburg)

Postdoctoral Fellow – ECM Remodeling & Cancer Invasion Research (Luxembourg Institute of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Role of Collagen in Tissue Repair & Regeneration (University of Pennsylvania)

Research Lab Specialist – Tumor Microenvironment & Cell Behavior (University of Southern California)

Faculty Positions – Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics (Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioengineering Cell Fate & Morphogeneis in Organoids (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships – Kidney Disease (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

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

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

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