Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.35 | Sep 12 2019

TOP STORY

Targeting Cardiac Fibrosis with Engineered T Cells

Through expression analysis of the gene signatures of cardiac fibroblasts obtained from healthy and diseased human hearts, researchers identified an endogenous target of cardiac fibroblasts—fibroblast activation protein. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Biomechanical Signaling within the Developing Zebrafish Heart Attunes Endocardial Growth to Myocardial Chamber Dimensions

Scientists showed that an increased expansion of the myocardial atrial chamber volume generated higher junctional forces within endocardial cells. This leads to biomechanical signaling involving VE-cadherin, triggering nuclear localization of the Hippo pathway transcriptional regulator Yap1 and endocardial proliferation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Spatial Oxidation of L-Plastin Downmodulates Actin-Based Functions of Tumor Cells

Investigators revealed that L-plastin, an established tumor marker, was reversibly regulated by reactive oxygen species-induced thiol oxidation on Cys101, which formed a disulfide bridge with Cys42. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Cell-Size Pleomorphism Drives Aberrant Clone Dispersal in Proliferating Epithelia

Consistent with similar dynamics in vivo, the authors demonstrated that mosaic disruption of Drosophila Tor generated small cells and resulted in aberrant clone dispersal in developing wing disc epithelia. [Dev Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Suppression of Monosodium Urate Crystal-Induced Inflammation by Inhibiting TGF-β-Activated Kinase 1-Dependent Signaling: Role of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System

Research investigated the intracellular signaling mechanisms involved in monosodium urate (MSU)-induced activation of THP-1 macrophages and human nondiseased synovial fibroblasts and the in vivo efficacy of an inhibitor of tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β)-activated kinase 1, 5Z-7-oxozeaenol, in MSU-induced paw inflammation in C57BL/6 mice. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

Protease Nexin I Is a Feedback Regulator of EGF/PKC/MAPK/EGR1 Signaling in Breast Cancer Cells Metastasis and Stemness

Scientists discovered that epidermal growth factor (EGF) up-regulated protease nexin-1 in breast cancer cells through cascade activation of epidermal growth factor receptor to the activation of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ), mitogen-activated protein kinase and extracellular signal-related kinase, which finally led to the up-regulation of early growth response protein 1 (EGR1). [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1-Induced miR-133a Inhibits Myofibroblast Differentiation and Pulmonary Fibrosis

Investigators used both RNA sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR strategies to systematically study TGF-β1-induced alternations of miRNAs in human lung fibroblasts. They showed that miR-133a was significantly upregulated by TGF-β1 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Heterogeneity in The Mechanical Properties of Integrins Determines Mechanotransduction Dynamics in Bone Osteoblasts

A hybrid-multiscale model combining molecular, cellular and tissue interactions was developed to examine links between integrins’ mechanosensation and effects on mechanotransduction, ECM modulation and cell-ECM interaction. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Prion Protein Modulates Endothelial to Mesenchyme-Like Transition in Trabecular Meshwork Cells: Implications for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Silencing of prion protein in primary human trabecular meshwork cells induced aggregation of β1-integrin and upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, collagen 1A, vimentin, and laminin, suggestive of transition to a mesenchyme-like phenotype. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Potential Roles of Matricellular Proteins in Stroke

The authors review the available information regarding potential roles of matricellular proteins in stroke, and discuss the potential therapeutic approaches against stroke using matricellular proteins. [Exp Neurol] Abstract

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

BIOLIFE4D Becomes First US Company to Successfully Demonstrate Ability to 3D Bioprint a Mini Human Heart

BIOLIFE4D announced it has successfully demonstrated its ability to 3D bioprint a mini human heart, a significant step toward its goal of producing a full-sized human heart viable for transplant. [BIOLIFE4D] Press Release

New 10 Million Award Will Help Faculty Development, Ensure Biomed Research Growth

Boise State University now announced that the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence has been selected to receive National Institutes of Health Phase II funding, which will sustain the momentum of Boise State’s biomedical research with $10 million over five years. [Boise State University (Newswise, Inc.)] Press Release

EU Research Commissioner Named, but Lacks ‘Research’ in Her Title

Mariya Gabriel, a conservative politician from Bulgaria, is slated to become the next European research chief- although her job title, unlike that of her predecessors, doesn’t include the words “research” or “science.” Some researchers and science policy experts worry the new job title could signal a reduced standing for science within von der Leyen’s proposed executive branch for the European Union, made up of 26 commissioners. [Science Magazine] Editorial

US EPA to Eliminate All Mammal Testing by 2035

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, DC, announced September 10^th that it will stop conducting or funding studies on mammals by 2035. The move, which is already eliciting strong reactions from groups supporting or opposing experiments on animals, makes EPA the first federal agency to put a hard deadline on phasing out animal research. [Science Magazine] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Cancer Epigenetics – New Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities
January 26-30, 2020
Keystone, Colorado, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Tumor Microenvironment and Proteomics (Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute)

Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology (University of Manchester)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Wound Healing (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Proteoglycans in Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis (Drexel University)

Lab Specialist – ECM of the Eye (The University of Utah)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Engineering Human Tissues (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Molecular Mechanisms of Psychiatric Disorders (McLean Hospital)

Postdoctoral Position – Receptor Biology (Scripps Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Circulating Extracellular RNAs in Reproductive Medicine (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Intercellular Signaling Inflammation and Atherosclerosis (University of California, San Francisco)

Research Scientist – Intestinal Injury/Tissue Engineering (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

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

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