Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.28 | Jul 25 2019

TOP STORY

Integrated Analyses of Murine Breast Cancer Models Reveal Critical Parallels with Human Disease

Through integrative in vitro and in vivo studies, researchers identified copy number alterations in key extracellular matrix proteins including collagen 1 type 1 alpha 1 and chondroadherin that drive metastasis in these mouse models. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Bioinspired Lipoproteins-Mediated Photothermia Remodels Tumor Stroma to Improve Cancer Cell Accessibility of Second Nanoparticles

Multiple stromal cells and ECM components in tumor stromal microenvironments were remarkably disrupted by bioinspired lipoprotein (bLP)-mediated photothermal effects, which caused a 4.27-fold enhancement of second bLP accumulation in tumor, deep penetration in whole tumor mass and 27.0-fold increase of accessibility to cancer cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Multiplex Quantitative Analysis of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Immunotherapy Outcome in Metastatic Melanoma

Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) parameters, by cell counts or quantitative immunofluorescence, did not correlate with immune markers nor with best overall response. However, both Thy1 and fibroblast activation protein cell counts had significant positive associations with progression-free survival, and overall survival. [J Immunother Cancer] Full Article

Tendon Tissue Microdamage and the Limits of Intrinsic Repair

Minimally loaded/damaged fascicles progressively lost elastic modulus over the course of tissue culture, despite their collagen structures remaining intact with high degree of maintained cell viability. In contrast, more severely overloaded fascicles with damage at the molecular/collagen level showed no further loss of the elastic modulus but markedly decreased cell viability. [Matrix Biol] Abstract

Obesity-Associated Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Promotes a Macrophage Phenotype Similar to Tumor-Associated Macrophages

Utilizing clinical samples, computational approaches, and in vitro decellularized ECM models, investigators quantified the relative abundance of pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages in human breast adipose tissue, determined molecular similarities between obesity and tumor-associated macrophages, and assessed the regulatory effect of obese versus lean ECM on macrophage phenotype. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

Genipin and EDC Crosslinking of Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Derived from Human Umbilical Cord for Neural Tissue Repair

Hydrogels crosslinked by genipin (ECM/G) or EDC (ECM/D) were evaluated in vitro in terms of their mechanical properties, degradation stability and biocompatibility. ECM/G, unlike ECM/D, crosslinked hydrogels revealed improved rheological properties when compared to uncrosslinked ECM. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Transcriptomics of a KDELR1 Knockout Cell Line Reveals Modulated Cell Adhesion Properties

Impaired adhesion capacity of KDEL receptor (KDELR) 1-KO cells was demonstrated through in vitro adhesion assays, while collagen- and/or laminin-coating nearly doubled the adhesion property of KDELR1-KO cells compared to wild-type, confirming a transcriptional adaptation to improve or restore the cellular adhesion capability. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Polyphosphate Initiates Tau Aggregation through Intra- and Intermolecular Scaffolding

The authors found that while proline rich and microtubule binding regions both contained polyphosphate binding sites, the proline rich region was a requisite for compaction of the microtubule binding region upon binding. [Biophys J] Abstract

Nrf2-Mediated Cytoprotective Effect of Four Different Hyaluronic Acids by Molecular Weight in Human Tenocytes

Researchers demonstrated that Artrosulfur HA, Hyalubrix and Hyalgan improved cell escape from H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, decreasing cytotoxicity, reducing Nrf2 expression and enhancing catalase recovery. [J Drug Target] Abstract

^99mTc-Hydroxydiphosphonate Quantification of Extracellular Matrix Mineralization in 3D Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cultures

Highly porous collagen type II scaffolds were seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells and cultured for 21 days in osteogenic media and in parallel in standard media. After incubation with ^99mTc-hydroxydiphosphonate, the tracer uptake, reflected by the amount of emitted gamma counts, was measured. [Bone Joint Res] Full Article

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Extracellular Matrix Composition of Connective Tissues: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The function of connective tissues depends on the physical and biochemical properties of their ECM, which are in turn dictated by ECM protein composition. The authors perform a systematic review of papers reporting protein composition of human connective tissues. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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

Xylyx Bio Joins Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) Consortium

Xylyx Bio announced that it has joined ARMI, a public-private Manufacturing USA initiative that supports the manufacturing of engineered tissues and tissue-related technologies. [Xylyx Bio, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

MediWound Launches EscharEx^® US Clinical Development Program

MediWound Ltd. announced its US clinical development plan for EscharEx, the company’s topical biological drug candidate for the debridement of chronic and hard-to-heal wounds. [MediWound Ltd.] Press Release

Scientists Doing Basic Studies of Human Brain Win Longer Reprieve from Clinical Trials Reporting Rule

US scientists who challenged a new rule that would require them to register their basic studies of the human brain and behavior in a federal database of clinical trials have won another reprieve. The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, says it now understands why some of that kind of research won’t easily fit the format of ClinicalTrials.gov, and the agency has delayed the reporting requirements for another two years. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Indonesia’s Strict New Biopiracy Rules Could Stifle International Research

Indonesia’s rich biodiversity and complex geology have lured scientists from abroad for centuries. But a law adopted by Indonesia’s parliament may convince some to go elsewhere. The legislation includes strict requirements on foreign scientists doing research in Indonesia, including the need to recruit local collaborators and a near-ban on exporting specimens, along with stiff sanctions, including jail time, for violators. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 7^th International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering 2019
December 11-13, 2019
Barcelona, Spain

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

NEW Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Bioengineering of 4D Scaffold Development (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Extracellular Matrix of Brain Vessels (Inserm)

Research Fellow – Lectin Biochemistry (University of Leeds)

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 in St. Louis)

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