Extracellular Matrix News Volume 11.10 | Mar 19 2020

TOP STORY

Fiber Reinforced GelMA Hydrogel to Induce the Regeneration of Corneal Stroma

Researchers fabricated grid poly (ε-caprolactone)-poly microfibrous scaffold and infused the scaffold with gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel to obtain a 3D fiber hydrogel construct; the fiber spacing was adjusted to fabricate optimal construct that simulated the stromal structure with properties most similar to the native cornea. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Cerebellar Plasticity and Associative Memories Are Controlled by Perineuronal Nets

Investigators showed that perineuronal nets (PNNs) in the mouse deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) were diminished during eyeblink conditioning, a form of associative motor learning that depended on DCN plasticity. When memories were fully acquired, PNNs were restored. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

Zinc Silicate/Nano-Hydroxyapatite/Collagen Scaffolds Promote Angiogenesis and Bone Regeneration via the p38 MAPK Pathway in Activated Monocytes

Zinc silicate/nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen scaffolds increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells, nestin-positive bone marrow stromal cells and CD31-positive neovessels, and expression of osteogenesis and angiogenesis-related genes increased in nascent bone. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

MMP9 Mediates Acute Hyperglycemia-Induced Human Cardiac Stem Cell Death by Upregulating Apoptosis and Pyroptosis In Vitro

The authors investigated whether matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) was a mediator of hyperglycemia-induced cell death in human cardiac stem cells (hCSCs) in vitro. They created MMP9^−/− hCSCs to test the hypothesis that MMP9 mediated hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and cell death via apoptosis and pyroptosis in hCSCs, which was attenuated by the lack of MMP9. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

The Transcription Factor-MicroRNA Regulatory Network during hESC-Chondrogenesis

Small RNA-seq and whole transcriptome sequencing was performed on distinct stages of hESC-directed chondrogenesis. This revealed significant changes in the expression of several microRNAs including upregulation of known cartilage associated microRNAs and those transcribed from the Hox complexes, and the downregulation of pluripotency associated microRNAs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Rhein, a Novel Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibitor with Antifibrotic Potency in Human Myocardial Fibrosis

Knowledge based analyses of the omics data revealed a modulation of fibrosis-associated pathways and cell cycle due to Rhein administration during hypoxia, whereas p53 and p21 were identified as upstream regulators involved in the manifestation of cardiac fibroblast phenotypes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Rapamycin Protects Chondrocytes against IL-18-Induced Apoptosis and Ameliorates Rat Osteoarthritis

Scientists investigated the effects of interleukin (IL)-18 treatment and inhibition in rat chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo. They used RT-PCR and Western blotting to measure the mRNA and protein levels of the chondrocyte-specific genes Collagen II and Aggrecan as well as the protein levels of apoptosis-related, autophagy-related, and mTOR pathway-related genes. [Aging (Albany NY)] Abstract

Conjugating Homogenized Liver-Extracellular Matrix into Decellularized Hepatic Scaffold for Liver Tissue Engineering

Researchers conjugated homogenized liver-ECM into a decellularized liver in a rat model to improve its structural and functional properties. The homogenized ECM was prepared, characterized, and subsequently perfused into ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide activated liver scaffolds. [Biomed Mater Res] Abstract

Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis of Corneal Curvature Identifies Novel Loci and Shared Genetic Influences Across Axial Length and Refractive Error

Investigators present a trans-ethnic meta-analysis of corneal curvature GWAS in 44,042 individuals of Caucasian and Asian with replication in 88,218 UK Biobank data. Implicated genes were involved in ECM organization, developmental process for body and eye, connective tissue cartilage and glycosylation protein activities. [Commun Biol] Full Article

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Taking a Full Snapshot of Cancer Biology: Deciphering the Tumor Microenvironment for Effective Cancer Therapy in the Oncology Clinic

The author critically examines the tumor microenvironment components such as cancer-associated fibroblasts and ECM that can be reprogrammed to create a tumor-suppressive environment, thereby aiding in tumor treatment. [OMICS] Abstract

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

Backed by Money and Mentors, Undergrads Embark on Research Adventures

41 University of Virginia students have received undergraduate research grants to explore many topics of their choosing during the summer. The awardees receive as much as $4,000 apiece to pursue their research interests, along with a faculty mentor – a process that has gone on every year since 2001, introducing students to the intellectual joy of creating knowledge and launching them toward an array of careers. [The University of Virginia] Press Release

Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston Announce Collaborative Grant Awardees

Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston (UH) are teaming up for new research collaborations. The two Texas Medical Center member institutions have awarded grant funding for nine research projects, each with investigators from both schools, as part of a pilot program resulting from a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between Baylor College of Medicine and UH to foster new partnerships and research collaborations. [The University of Houston] Press Release

Respirators, Quarantines, and Worst-Case Scenarios: Lab Animal Facilities Grapple with the Pandemic

Many universities are currently grappling with the best way to care for the millions of mice, monkeys, and other research animals they care for across the country, in addition to protecting the health of their own employees. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Journals, Peer Reviewers Cope with Surge in COVID-19 Publications

Academic journals have already taken steps to accelerate the flow of peer-reviewed information by expediting editorial and peer review for coronavirus-related manuscripts and granting them open-access status upon publication. [The Scientist] Editorial

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NEW Faculty Member – Lung ECM Biology (NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)

Postdoctoral Researcher – ECM Remodeling in Breast Cancer (Institute of Cancer Research)

Department Head – Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (University of Illinois College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Myometrial ECM (University of Vermont)

Investigator – Single Cell Genomics (GlaxoSmithKline USA)

Researcher – Biomaterials Scientist (Aspect Biosystems)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Regulatory RNA and Cell-Cell Communication (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanisms of TGF-Beta Activiation (Genentech, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase (Vascular Biology Center)

Research Associate – Oncology (Zymeworks, Inc.)

Research Scientist – Tumor Microenvironment (Systimmune, Inc.)

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