Extracellular Matrix News Volume 2.01 | Jan 13 2011

Global Tissue Revolutions in a Morphogenetic Movement Controlling Elongation  
Researchers present evidence that polarized rotation is required to build a polarized, fibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM) that constrains tissue shape. Thus, global tissue rotation is a morphogenetic behavior that uses planar polarity information in the ECM to control tissue elongation. [Science]

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Transforming Skin Cells Into Cartilage
Researchers at the Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine used fibroblasts isolated from adult mouse skin, and expressed proteins used to induce pluripotency along with a factor that promotes a chondrocyte fate. The resulting cells resembled chondrocytes and produced cartilage when injected into mice. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation]
 
Glucose Homeostasis: The Collagen Connection
The authors believe that results show that collagen and connective tissue are critical in the proper function of cells that control metabolism, including pancreatic islets, fat cells, and skeletal muscle. [Press release from discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation]

Biomedical Breakthrough: Blood Vessels for Lab-Grown Tissues
Researchers have broken one of the major roadblocks on the path to growing transplantable tissue in the lab: they’ve found a way to grow the blood vessels and capillaries needed to keep tissues alive. [Press release from Rice University discussing online prepublication in Acta Biomaterialia]

ECM1 Controls T_H2 Cell Egress from Lymph Nodes Through Re-Expression of S1P(1)
Data identify a previously unknown function of extracellular matrix protein-1 (ECM1) in regulating type 2 helper T (T_H2) cell migration through control of KLF2 and S1P1 expression. [Nat Immunol]

Generation of Hyaline Cartilaginous Tissue from Mouse Adult Dermal Fibroblast Culture by Defined Factors
Researchers show that retroviral expression of two reprogramming factors (c-Myc and Klf4) and one chondrogenic factor (SOX9) induces polygonal chondrogenic cells directly from adult dermal fibroblast cultures. [J Clin Invest]

Alpha3(V) Collagen Is Critical for Glucose Homeostasis in Mice Due to Effects in Pancreatic Islets and Peripheral Tissues
Results underscore the emerging view of the importance of extracellular matrix to the microenvironments that inform proper development/functioning of specialized cells, such as adipocytes, beta cells, and skeletal muscle. [J Clin Invest]

Matrix Metalloproteinase 17 Is Necessary for Cartilage Aggrecan Degradation in an Inflammatory Environment
Data further implicate matrix metalloproteinase 17 in the control of articular cartilage extracellular matrix aggrecan integrity in an inflammatory environment. [Ann Rheum Dis]

Stem-Cell-Capturing Collagen Scaffold Promotes Cardiac Tissue Regeneration
Researchers attempted to enrich autologous stem cells at the wound site through a stem-cell-capturing collagen scaffold by conjugating with a stem cell specific antibody. [Biomaterials]

Dynamic Cell Behavior on Shape Memory Polymer Substrates
Results demonstrate control of cell behavior through shape-memory-activated topographic changes and introduce the use of active cell culture shape memory polymer substrates for investigation of mechanotransduction, cell biomechanical function, and cell soft-matter physics. [Biomaterials]

The Effect of Biophysical Attributes of the Ocular Trabecular Meshwork Associated with Glaucoma on the Cell Response to Therapeutic Agents
Researchers report that polyacrylamide hydrogels, which mimic the compliant conditions of normal and glaucomatous ocular trabecular meshwork (HTM), profoundly modulate cytoskeletal dynamics and the elastic modulus of the overlying HTM cells. [Biomaterials]

Lyophilized Silk Fibroin Hydrogels for the Sustained Local Delivery of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies
Silk lyogels offer an advantage as a delivery matrix over other hydrogel materials for the slow release of the loaded protein, making lyogels suitable for long-term sustained release applications. [Biomaterials]

Integrin Alpha5Beta1 Facilitates Cancer Cell Invasion Through Enhanced Contractile Forces
Researchers studied the invasion of cancer cells with different alpha5beta1 integrin expression levels into loose and dense 3D collagen fiber matrices. [J Cell Sci ]

Syndecan-1 in Breast Cancer Stroma Fibroblasts Regulates Extracellular Matrix Fiber Organization and Carcinoma Cell Motility
To examine a possible link between stromal cell surface proteoglycan syndecan-1 (Sdc1) and the fiber architecture, scientists generated bioactive cell-free three-dimensional extracellular matrices (ECMs) from cultures of Sdc1-positive and Sdc1-negative murine and human mammary fibroblasts (termed ECM-Sdc1 and ECM-mock, respectively). [Am J Pathol ]

Covalently Immobilized Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB Promotes Angiogenesis in Biomimetic Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogels
In this work bioactive, covalently immobilized platelet-derived growth factor BB was shown to induce tubulogenesis on two-dimensional modified surfaces, migration in three-dimensional degradable hydrogels and angiogenesis in a mouse cornea micropocket angiogenesis assay. [Acta Biomater]

Alpha Gal 1, 3-Transferase Knock Out Does not Alter the Properties of Porcine Extracellular Matrix Bioscaffolds
The results suggest that genetic modification to eliminate the galactose-alpha1, 3-galactose epitopes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) bioscaffolds had not altered the properties of these ECM bioscaffolds and as such, they should retain their performance in tissue engineering in humans. [Acta Biomater]

Graftys Completes Third Round of Financing for 4 Million Euros ($5.3 Million), and Adds a New Financial Partner
Graftys, an early stage company focused on advanced bone biologics and based in Aix-en-Provence, France, is pleased to announce the completion of its third round of financing, which totaled 4 million Euros ($5.3 Million). [Business Wire]
 
FibroGen Announces the Initiation of an Open-Label Phase II Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of FG-3019 in Individuals with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
FibroGen, Inc. announced initiation of an open-label Phase II study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of FG-3019, a human monoclonal antibody against connective tissue growth factor, in individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic, progressive, fatal lung disease for which there are no FDA-approved therapies. [FibroGen, Inc. Press Release]

The Power of “Convergence”
A new model for scientific research known as “convergence” offers the potential for revolutionary advances in biomedicine and other areas of science, according to a white paper issued today by 12 leading Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. [Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press Release]

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