Extracellular Matrix News Volume 11.15 | Apr 23 2020

TOP STORY

Dermal Adipocyte Lipolysis and Myofibroblast Conversion Are Required for Efficient Skin Repair

Investigators identified an essential role for adipocyte lipolysis in regulating inflammation and repair after injury in skin. Genetic mouse studies revealed that dermal adipocytes were necessary to initiate inflammation after injury and promote subsequent repair. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Collagen-Producing Lung Cell Atlas Identifies Multiple Subsets with Distinct Localization and Relevance to Fibrosis

Researchers characterized multiple collagen-producing subpopulations with distinct anatomical localizations in different compartments of murine lungs. One subpopulation, characterized by expression of collagen triple helix repeat containing 1, emerged in fibrotic lungs and expresses the highest levels of collagens. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Protective Role of Renal Proximal Tubular Alpha-Synuclein in the Pathogenesis of Kidney Fibrosis

Scientists describe the expression of alpha-(α)-synuclein in renal epithelial cells and demonstrated its decrease in renal tubules of murine and human fibrotic kidneys, as well as its downregulation in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells after TGF-β1 treatment. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Smoothened Agonist Sterosome Immobilized Hybrid Scaffold for Bone Regeneration

Sterosome was covalently immobilized onto 3D scaffolds via a bioinspired polydopamine intermediate to fabricate a hybrid scaffold for bone regeneration. Sterosome-immobilized hybrid scaffold not only provided a favorable substrate for cell adhesion and proliferation but also delivered bioactive agents in a sustained and spatially targeted manner. [Sci Adv] Full Article

Resolvin E1 Is a Pro-Repair Molecule that Promotes Intestinal Epithelial Wound Healing

Resolvin E1-triggered activation of the small GTPase Rac1 led to increased intracellular reactive oxygen species production, cell-matrix adhesion, and cellular protrusions at the leading edge of migrating cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Matrix Mechanotransduction Mediated by Thrombospondin-1/Integrin/YAP in the Vascular Remodeling

The authors identified the matricellular protein thrombospondin-1 as an extracellular mediator of matrix mechanotransduction that acted via integrin αvβ1 to establish focal adhesions and promotes nuclear shuttling of Yes-associated protein (YAP) in response to high strain of cyclic stretch. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

ZNF750 Represses Breast Cancer Invasion via Epigenetic Control of Prometastatic Genes

Researchers showed that zinc-finger protein 750 (ZNF750) opposed the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells by repressing a prometastatic transcriptional program, which included genes involved in focal adhesion and ECM interactions, such as LAMB3 and CTNNAL1. [Oncogene] Abstract

Tumor-Associated Macrophages Promote Ovarian Cancer Cell Migration by Secreting Transforming Growth Factor Beta Induced (TGFBI) and Tenascin C

The authors observed that high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma migration was promoted by soluble mediators from ascites (ASC)-derived tumor associated macrophage (TAM), which could be emulated by conditioned medium from monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) differentiated in ascites to TAM-like asc-MDM. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Inhibition of Collagen XI Alpha 1-Induced Fatty Acid Oxidation Triggers Apoptotic Cell Death in Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Scientists identified that fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) was upregulated by collagen type XI alpha 1 (COL11A1) in ovarian cancer cells and that COL11A1-driven cisplatin resistance could be abrogated by inhibition of FAO. They demonstrated that COL11A1 also enhanced the expression of proteins involved in fatty acid synthesis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Construction of Higher-Order Cellular Microstructures by a Self-Wrapping Co-Culture Strategy Using a Redox-Responsive Hydrogel

Investigators used a redox-responsive hydrogel that degraded under mild reductive conditions, and a confluent monolayer of cells cultured on the hydrogel surface peeled off and self-folded to wrap other cells. The self-folding of fibroblast cell sheet was triggered by immersion in aqueous cysteine, and this folding process was controlled by the cysteine concentration. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Proteomic Analysis of Knee Cartilage Reveals Potential Signaling Pathways in Pathological Mechanism of Kashin-Beck Disease Compared with Osteoarthritis

A total number of 375 proteins were identified to have differential abundance between Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and osteoarthritis, of which 121 and 254 proteins were observed to be up-regulated or down-regulated in KBD group. GO analysis showed that the differential abundant proteins were associated with cell junction and signal transducer activity from extracellular to intracellular. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Nintedanib Inhibits Keloid Fibroblast Functions by Blocking the Phosphorylation of Multiple Kinases and Enhancing Receptor Internalization

Scientists investigated the effects of nintedanib on keloid fibroblasts in both in vitro and ex vivo models. Keloid fibroblasts were prepared from 54 keloid scar samples in active stages collected from 49 patients. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

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Mesenchymal Stem Cell/Multipotent Stromal Cell Augmentation of Wound Healing: Lessons from the Physiology of Matrix and Hypoxia Support

Investigators provide a brief overview of cutaneous wound healing with discussion on how ECM proteins and hypoxia can be utilized to improve mesenchymal stromal cell retention and therapeutic outcome. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

Enzyme-Based Fabrication of Physical DNA Hydrogels: New Materials and Applications

The authors provide a brief overview of the enzyme-based fabrication method of physical DNA hydrogels and discuss the latest developments in technology and their applications. [Polymer J] Abstract

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

Histogen Announces Investigational Device Exemption Application for HST 002

Histogen, Inc. announced that it has submitted an Investigational Device Exemption application with the FDA for the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of HST 002 for the treatment of facial folds and wrinkles. ST 002 is a naturally produced collagen and ECM dermal filler targeting the treatment of facial folds and wrinkles. [Histogen, Inc.] Press Release

Untapped Potential: More US Labs Could Be Providing Tests for Coronavirus

A survey of more than 4,000 researchers in the United States suggests that better coordination at an institutional and national level could make hundreds of thousands more tests for coronavirus available. [Nature News] Editorial

Director of US Agency Key to Vaccine Development Leaves Role Suddenly amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Rick Bright, one of the nation’s leading vaccine development experts and the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, is no longer leading the organization. [STAT News] Editorial

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NEW Posdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Regenerative Biomedicine (TU Dresden)

PhD Studentship – 3D Bioprinting of Tissues (Uppsala University)

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)

Researcher – Biomaterials Scientist (Aspect Biosystems)

Research Associate – Oncology (Zymeworks, Inc.)

Research Scientist – Tumor Microenvironment (Systimmune, Inc.)

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