Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.49 | Dec 19 2019

TOP STORY

Repurposing Human Kinase Inhibitors to Create an Antibiotic Active against Drug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Persisters and Biofilms

Scientists report screening commercial kinase inhibitors for antibacterial activity and found the anticancer drug sorafenib as major hit that effectively kills MRSA strains. [Nat Chem] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

HIV-1 Matrix Trimerization-Impaired Mutants Are Rescued by Matrix Substitutions That Enhance Envelope Glycoprotein Incorporation

Researchers identified a number of changes in the matrix, both within and distant from the trimer interface. The compensatory mutations located within or near the trimer interface restored viral envelope incorporation and particle infectivity and permitted replication in culture. [J Virol] Abstract

p53-Regulated Long Non-Coding RNA PRECSIT Promotes Progression of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma via STAT3 Signaling

Elevated expression of LINC00346 was noted in tumor cells in cutaneous squamous carcinoma tissue sections in vivo, as compared to cutaneous squamous carcinoma in situ, and actinic keratosis by RNA in situ hybridization, and the expression in seborrheic keratosis and normal skin was very low. [Am J Pathol] Full Article

An Au-Se Nanoprobe for the Evaluation of the Invasive Potential of Breast Cancer Cells via Imaging the Sequential Activation of uPA and MMP-2

A novel gold-selenium (Au-Se) fluorescent nanoprobe with excellent selectivity and strong anti-interference capability was designed for the simultaneous in situ imaging of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and real-time monitoring of their changes in living cells. [Analyst] Abstract

PEG Grafted Chitosan Scaffold for Dual Growth Factor Delivery for Enhanced Wound Healing

Investigators developed a polyethylene glycol (PEG) cross-linked cotton-like chitosan scaffold by freeze-drying method and chemically conjugated heparin to the scaffold to which the growth factors could be electrostatically bound and evaluated its wound healing properties in vitro and in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Circulating Proteomic Signature of Early Death in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction

A molecular network was built using 203 proteins, and the resulting network contained 2281 molecules assigned to 34 clusters annotated to biological pathways by Gene Ontology. This network model highlighted extracellular matrix organization as the main mechanism involved in early death in heart failure patients. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Specific Complexes Derived from Extracellular Matrix Facilitate Generation of Structural and Drug-Responsive Human Salivary Gland Microtissues through Maintenance Stem Cell Homeostasis

Scientists prepared specific complexes from human salivary gland extracellular matrix (s-Ecx) and analyzed the components of the s-Ecx. Human salivary gland epithelial and mesenchymal cells were used to generate microtissues and the optimum seeding cell number and ratio of two cell types were determined. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Stimulation of MMP-9 of Oral Epithelial Cells by Areca Nut Extract Is Related to TGF-β/Smad2-Dependent and -Independent Pathways and Prevented by Betel Leaf Extract, Hydroxychavicol and Melatonin

Areca nut extract (but not arecoline) stimulated matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) production of gingival keratinocytes and SAS cancer epithelial cells. Areca nut extract stimulated TGF-β1, p-Smad2, and p-TAK1 protein expression. [Aging (Albany NY)] Full Article

Decreased Uterine Vascularization and Uterine Arterial Expansive Remodeling with Reduced Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in Hypertensive Pregnancy

MMP levels and collagen deposition were measured. Blood pressure was higher, and the uterus weight, litter size, and pup weight were reduced in reduced uterine perfusion pressure vs hypertension-in-pregancy rats. [Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol] Abstract

Alterations in Innate Immunity and Epithelial Cell Differentiation Are the Molecular Pillars of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Dysregulated genes were detected by comparing lesional and non-lesional skin obtained from female hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa patients and matched healthy controls using the Agilent array platform. [J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol] Abstract

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The Matrisome during Aging and Longevity: A Systems-Level Approach toward Defining Matreotypes Promoting Healthy Aging

Defined matreotypes could be used as biomarkers or prognostic factors for disease or health status during aging with potential relevance for personalized medicine. Treatment with biologics that alter ECM-to-cell mechanotransduction might be a strategy to reverse age-associated pathologies. [Gerontology] Abstract

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

Axogen Awarded Research Grant from the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute

Axogen, Inc. announced it has been awarded a grant to research and develop an automated bioprocessing system for human tissue scaffolds. Axogen’s partnership with the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute will enable the decellularization and recellularization of tissue scaffolds with little to no human intervention. [Axogen, Inc.] Press Release

CStone Completes Registration Filing for the Phase I Trial of Its Tumor Immune Microenvironment Modulator CS3005 to Enable Study Initiation in Australia

CStone Pharmaceuticals announced that the company has recently received the approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee in Australia, and the acknowledgement from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration on the Phase I clinical trial of CS3005. [CStone Pharmaceuticals (PR Newswire, Inc.)] Press Release

The Top Retractions of 2019

Another year, another 1,433 (and counting) retractions. The tenth year of Retraction Watch’s existence included-as is often the case-a new record, some impressive numbers, and some bizarre stories. But it also included some exemplary behavior. [The Scientist] Editorial

NIH Considering New Recommendations on Sexual Harassment Policies

Recommendations put forth by the Working Group on Changing the Culture to End Sexual Harassment include requiring NIH-funded institutions to notify the agency within two weeks when a grant recipient is found guilty of sexual misconduct, barring confirmed harassers from serving on NIH advisory councils, and mandating that grant applicants report sexual harassment findings against them. [The Scientist] Editorial

Scientists on the Move

Success in science requires building top performing teams to push the boundaries of what is known-and this means attracting and nurturing scientific talent. In today’s political climate of possible scientific funding cuts and immigration policy uncertainty, headlines forecast a grim effect on scientific research. [Scientific American] Editorial

NEW Intra- and Intercellular Mechanisms of Aging
February 9-13, 2020
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Tumor Microenvironment (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Inter- and Extracellular Protein Interactions (University of Southern California)

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

Predoctoral Fellow – Endothelial Regeneration (TU Dresden)

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

Postdoctoral Researchers – Engineering Human Tissues (Columbia University)

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