Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.47 | Dec 4 2019

TOP STORY

Epigenetic Signaling in Glia Controls Presynaptic Homeostatic Plasticity

Researchers present evidence that the SAGA complex was necessary for homeostatic plasticity, demonstrating involvement of four new genes in homeostatic plasticity. They showed, mechanistically, SAGA signaling regulated the composition of and signaling from the extracellular matrix during homeostatic plasticity. [Neuron] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Murine Single-Cell RNA-Seq Reveals Cell-Identity- and Tissue-Specific Trajectories of Aging

Investigators found transcriptional features of aging common across many cell types, as well as features of aging unique to each type. Leveraging matrix factorization and optimal transport methods, they found that both cell identities and tissue environments exert influence on the trajectory and magnitude of aging, with cell identity influence predominating. [Genome Res] Full Article

General Cellular Durotaxis Induced with Cell-Scale Heterogeneity of Matrix-Elasticity

To clarify the effect of the cell-scale heterogeneity of matrix-elasticity on durotaxis, the authors examined the motility of different types of cells on microelastically-striped patterned gels with different cell-sized widths. They found that cells accumulated in stiff regions with specific width on cell-type-dependency, even when a stiffness gradient is too small to induce usual durotaxis with a monotonic stiffness gradient. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Recruitment of Integrin α_νβ₃ to Integrin α₅β₁-Induced Clusters Enables Focal Adhesion Maturation and Cell Spreading

Blocking of integrin α_vβ₃ hindered focal adhesion (FA) maturation and cell spreading on α₅β₁-selective substrates, indicating a mechanism dependent on extracellular ligand binding and highlighting the requirement of α_vβ₃ engagement for efficient adhesion. Recruitment of α_vβ₃ integrins additionally occurred on hydrogel substrates of varying mechanical properties, above a threshold stiffness supporting FA formation. [J Cell Sci] Full Article

Biallelic Variants in EFEMP1 in a Man with a Pronounced Connective Tissue Phenotype

Researchers showed biallelic loss-of-function variants in EFEMP1 in an individual with multiple and recurrent abdominal and thoracic herniae, myopia, hypermobile joints, scoliosis, and thin translucent skin. Fibroblasts from this individual expressed significantly lower EFEMP1 transcript than age-matched control cells. [Eur J Hum Genet] Abstract

Analysis of Fibroblast Migration Dynamics in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Using Image-Based Scaffolds of the Lung Extracellular Matrix

Scaffolds were fabricated by multiphoton excited polymerization, where the process was akin to 3D printing except it was performed at much greater resolution and with collagen and collagen analogs. These scaffolds were seeded with early passaged primary human normal and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis fibroblasts to enabling the decoupling of the effect of cell-intrinsic characteristics versus ECM structure on migration dynamics. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Integration of TGF-β-Induced Smad Signaling in the Insulin-Induced Transcriptional Response in Endothelial Cells

With TGF-β signaling controlling many cell responses, including differentiation and extracellular matrix deposition, and pathologically promoting fibrosis and cancer cell dissemination, the authors addressed to which extent autocrine TGF-β signaling participated in insulin-induced gene responses of human endothelial cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Melatonin Modulates IL-1β-Induced Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells and Attenuates Rat Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Inflammation

Scientists treated human nucleus pulposus cells with melatonin and discovered that melatonin could modulate ECM remodeling induced by IL-1β by enhancing collagen II and aggrecan expression levels and by downregulating matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels. [Aging (Albany NY)] Full Article

Binding of Brucella Protein, Bp26, to Select Extracellular Matrix Molecules

The possible role of Bp26 protein as an adhesin was explored. The ability of Brucella protein Bp26 to bind to ECM proteins was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and biolayer interferometry. [BMC Mol Cell Biol] Full Article

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Laminin-Inspired Cell-Instructive Microenvironments for Neural Stem Cells

Efforts have been made to understand laminin assembly, domain architecture and interaction of its different bioactive domains with cell surface receptors, soluble signaling molecules and ECM proteins, to gain insight into the role of this ECM protein and its receptors on the modulation of neurogenesis, both in homeostasis and during repair. [Biomacromolecules] Full Article

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

MediWound Initiates US Phase II Adaptive Design Study of EscharEx^® for Treatment of Venous Leg Ulcers

MediWound Ltd. announced the initiation of patient treatment in its Phase II adaptive design clinical study of EscharEx, a topical biologic drug candidate designed to enzymatically debride chronic wounds, for the treatment of venous leg ulcers. The trial is designed to assess safety and efficacy of EscharEx compared to gel vehicle and non-surgical standard-of-care, and includes a pre-defined interim assessment anticipated by the end of 2020. [MediWound Ltd.] Press Release

AMSSM Awards $300,000 Research Grant for OA Treatment

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) and its Collaborative Research Network announced the recipients of a $300,000 research grant, made possible by Avanos Medical, to study the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions using cooled radiofrequency ablation technology. [The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine] Press Release

Chinese Universities with Military Ties Classed as ‘Risky’ Collaborators

Forty-three Chinese universities should be considered ‘very high’ or ‘high’ risk collaborators because of their involvement in research for military and defence purposes, according to an Australian think tank. [Nature News] Editorial

Crack Down on Genomic Surveillance

Concerns about the potential downsides of governments being able to interrogate people’s DNA have been voiced since the early 2000s by activist groups, such as the non-profit organization GeneWatch UK, and some geneticists. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 6^th AACR-IASLC International Joint Conference: Lung Cancer Translational Science from the Bench to the Clinic
January 11-14, 2020
San Diego, California, United States

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

NEW Early Stage Researcher – Multiple Sclerosis (University Hospital of Muenster)

NEW Predoctoral Fellow – Endothelial Regeneration (TU Dresden)

NEW Scientist – Regenerative Medicine (Xtant Medical, Inc.)

Master Thesis – Hydrogels and Microfluid Environments (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioengineering Organoid Morphogenesis (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Islet Biology, Stem Cells, and Regenerative Medicine (Geneva University)

Faculty Position – Bone Biology and Regenerative Medicine (University of Michigan)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Metabolism, Signaling, and Epigenetics (University of California, Irvine)

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

Postdoctoral Researchers – Engineering Human Tissues (Columbia University)

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