Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.36 | Sep 19 2019

TOP STORY

Epithelial NOTCH Signaling Rewires the Tumor Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer to Drive Poor-Prognosis Subtypes and Metastasis

Transcriptional profiling revealed that epithelial NOTCH1 signaling creates a tumor microenvironment reminiscent of poorly prognostic human colorectal cancer subtypes, and drove metastasis through transforming growth factor β-dependent neutrophil recruitment. [Cancer Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Drives Dynamics of Local and Systemic Stress Responses in Mitochondrial Myopathy with mtDNA Deletions

Scientists report that in mitochondrial myopathy, mitochondrial integrated stress response progressed in temporal stages and development from early to chronic and was regulated by autocrine and endocrine effects of FGF21, a metabolic hormone with pleiotropic effects. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

SOX11 and SOX4 Drive the Reactivation of an Embryonic Gene Program during Murine Wound Repair

Investigators showed that upon damage in a mouse model, epidermal cells at the wound edge converted to an embryonic-like state, altering particularly the cytoskeletal/ECM components and differentiation program. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Cellular Responses to Beating Hydrogels to Investigate Mechanotransduction

Material platforms that enable transient, cyclic forces in vitro to recreate an in vivo-like scenario remain a challenge. The authors report a hydrogel system that rapidly beat with spatio-temporal control using a near infra-red light trigger. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Activation of Skeletal Stem and Progenitor Cells for Bone Regeneration Is Driven by PDGFRβ Signaling

Through bulk and single-cell transcriptome profiling of fetal osterix-expressing cells, followed by lineage mapping, cell tracing, and conditional mouse mutagenesis, researchers identified PDGF-PDGFRβ signaling as a critical functional mediator of skeletal stem and progenitor cell expansion, migration, and angiotropism during bone repair. [Dev Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

MT1-MMP Recruits the ER-Golgi SNARE Bet1 for Efficient MT1-MMP Transport to the Plasma Membrane

Scientists showed that membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) diverted the SNARE Bet1 from its function in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi transport, to promote MT1-MMP trafficking to the cell surface, likely to invadopodia. [J Cell Biol] Abstract

Glioblastoma-Associated Microglia Reprogramming Is Mediated by Functional Transfer of Extracellular miR-21

Mouse glioma cells stably expressing a palmitoylated GFP to label extracellular vesicles (EVs) were implanted intracranially into syngeneic miR-21-null mice. Investigators demonstrated functional delivery of miR-21, regulating specific downstream mRNA targets in microglia after uptake of tumor-derived EVs. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The TGFB2-AS1 lncRNA Regulates TGF-β Signaling by Modulating Corepressor Activity

Upon silencing individual lncRNAs, the authors identified several that regulated transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling. Among these lncRNAs, TGFB2-antisense RNA1 was induced by TGF-β through Smad and protein kinase pathways and resides in the nucleus. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Donor Age Significantly Influences the Raman Spectroscopic Biomolecular Fingerprint of Human Pancreatic Extracellular Matrix Proteins Following Collagenase-Based Digestion

Scientists investigated ECM digestion in purified ECM proteins and in pancreatic tissue sections from younger and older body mass index matched donors, using Raman microspectroscopy. [Acta Biomater] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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FGF23 at the Crossroads of Phosphate, Iron Economy and Erythropoiesis

A deeper understanding of the relationships between fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) regulation, iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis can be leveraged to devise novel therapeutic targets for treatment of anaemia and states of FGF23 excess, including chronic kidney disease. [Nat Rev Nephrol] Abstract

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

Testing Chemicals for Birth Defects Using Stem Cells, Not Mice

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, are part of an ambitious plan at the US Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate animal testing by 2035. Nicole zur Nieden and David Volz received $849,811 to grow human stem cells into bone-like tissue to test industrial and environmental chemicals that might interfere with fetal growth. [University of California, Riverside] Press Release

University of Sydney Launches School of Biomedical Engineering

The University of Sydney announced the launch of its new School of Biomedical Engineering, investing in the development of advanced biomedical technologies such as lab-grown organs, bionic eyes and implantable medical devices. [University of Sydney] Press Release

New Journal Seeks Typically Overlooked Studies

On September 18, Cambridge University Press launched an open-access journal that will address issues in research by taking a different approach to publishing. The journal, Experimental Results, will include findings that have inconclusive or negative results and articles that reproduce or dispute existing research. [The Scientist] Editorial

Senate Bill Would Give NIH $3 Billion in 2020, or 7.7% Boost

A Senate spending panel today released a draft 2020 spending bill containing a hefty $3 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that would bring the agency’s total budget to $42.1 billion. That 7.7% boost is $1 billion more than a House of Representatives committee approved in its version of the bill in April, and would amount to a 40% increase in NIH’s budget over the past five years. [ScienceMagazine] Editorial

NEW Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European Chapter Meeting 2030
May 26-29, 2020
Manchester, United Kingdom

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellowships – Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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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