Extracellular Matrix News 11.12 April 2, 2020 | |
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TOP STORYConnectivity and Plasticity Determine Collagen Network Fracture Investigators combined shear rheology of reconstituted collagen networks with computer simulations to investigate the primary determinants of fracture in disordered collagen networks. They showed that the fracture strain was controlled by the coordination number of the network junctions, with less connected networks fracturing at larger strains. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)A 78-gene signature for exhausted CD8+ T cells (GET) was identified and validated to reflect dysfunctional immune state spanning different species and disease models. Scientists discovered that GET estimation significantly correlated with intratumoral immune cytolytic activity and T cell-inflamed gene expression profile across 30 solid tumor types. [J Pathol] Abstract The authors analyzed 37 surgically resected and nine recurrent or metastatic anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-treated oropharyngeal cancer tumors. Oropharyngeal cancers were classified into immune-rich, mesenchymal and xenobiotic subtypes based on RNA-sequencing data. [Br J Cancer] Abstract Transcriptomics in Cancer Revealed by Positron Emission Tomography Radiomics Researchers identified relationships between Positron Emission Tomography radiomics and genes involved in cell-cycle, disease, DNA repair, ECM organization, immune system, metabolism or signal transduction pathways, according to the Reactome classification. [Sci Rep] Full Article Tumor-Penetrating Peptide for Systemic Targeting of Tenascin-C Tenascin-C (TNC-C) binding PL3 peptide was identified by in vitro biopanning on recombinant TNC-C. Besides TNC-C, PL3 interacted via its C-end Rule motif with cell-and tissue penetration receptor neuropilin-1. [Sci Rep] Full Article Researchers demonstrated the use of textured soy protein-an edible porous protein-based biomaterial-as a novel cell-based meat scaffold that could support cell attachment and proliferation to create a 3D engineered bovine muscle tissue. The media composition was optimized for 3D bovine satellite cell proliferation and differentiation by adding myogenic-related growth factors. [Nat Food] Abstract Researchers observed that CDC20 knockdown cells cultured in acidic environment exhibited chromosomal instability and better survival ability. The tumorigenic metabolism transformation was confirmed through the increase of ECAR and decrease of OCR in CDC20 knockdown cells. [Mol Ther Oncolytics] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Full Article M1 activation, characterized by elevated p38/p65 signaling and increased proinflammatory cytokines, promoted the infiltration and activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Modulation of the Agpat4/LPA/p38/p65 axis regulated macrophage polarization, T-cell activity and colorectal cancer progression. [Signal Transduct Target Ther] Full Article Collagen Fibril Density Modulates Macrophage Activation and Cellular Functions during Tissue Repair Monocytic cell line THP-1 cells were embedded in three-dimensional collagen matrices with different fibril density and were then differentiated into uncommitted macrophages (MPMA) using phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. MPMA macrophages were subsequently activated into pro-inflammatory macrophages and anti-inflammatory macrophages using lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma, and interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-13, respectively. [Bioengineering] Abstract | Download Full Article Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Endothelial Cell News & Dermal Cell News. | |
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REVIEWSDrilling for Oil: Tumor-Surrounding Adipocytes Fueling Cancer The authors discuss recent advances in the understanding of free fatty acids metabolic symbiosis between adipocytes and cancer cells and underline the differences in this metabolic crosstalk between the various types of cancer and their localization. [Trends Cancer] Abstract Tumor Control by Cytomegalovirus, a Door Open for Oncolytic Virotherapy? Described as a potential anti-tumoral activity, human cytomegalovirus modulates the tumor microenvironment mainly by inducing cell death through apoptosis and prompting a robust stimulatory effect on the immune cells infiltrating the tumor tissue. [Mol Ther Oncolytics] Abstract Fat-on-a-Chip Models for Research and Discovery in Obesity and Its Metabolic Co-Morbidities The majority of current obesity research has focused primarily on pre-clinical animal models in vivo and two-dimensional cell culture models in vitro. Neither of these generalized approaches is optimal due to inter-species variability, insufficient accuracy with respect to predicting human outcomes, and failure to recapitulate the three-dimensional microenvironment. [Tissue Eng Part B Rev] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the extracellular matrix research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSAB Science SA announces that the FDA has cleared the company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application, allowing the company to initiate its masitinib Phase III study (AB19001) in ALS. [AB Science SA] Press Release NOXXON Pharma N.V. announced that all three patients of the first dose cohort have been enrolled into the brain cancer clinical trial testing the CXCL12 inhibitor, NOX-A12, and have already received the planned initial treatment. [NOXXON Pharma N.V.] Press Release Spray-On Gene Therapy with RenovaCare SkinGun™ in New Study Underway at King’s College London RenovaCare, Inc. announced that the company’s novel SkinGun™ is now being used to apply regenerative cells in a preclinical study of new gene therapies, underway at King’s College London. [RenovaCare, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSCull, Release or Bring Them Home: Coronavirus Crisis Forces Hard Decisions for Labs with Animals As universities scale back operations and scientists observe stay-at-home orders, many are struggling to protect their research and the animals that power it. [Nature News] Editorial Tens of Thousands of Scientists Are Redeploying to Fight Coronavirus As labs shut down around the world, researchers are finding creative ways to donate their time, supplies and expertise. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSIn light of COVID-19, many conferences are being cancelled or postponed. As such: We are suspending new event postings in our newsletters and on Twitter. Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Regenerative Medicine (ShanghaiTech University) Principle Investigator – Regenerative Medicine (Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health) 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) Research Associate – Oncology (Zymeworks, Inc.) Research Scientist – Tumor Microenvironment (Systimmune, Inc.) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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