Extracellular Matrix News Volume 2.10 | Mar 17 2011

Webinar: ALDH^br Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase bright (ALDH^br) cells have been used in preclinical models and human clinical trials in applications such as critical limb ischemia, ischemic stroke, acute liver failure and ischemic heart failure.¹ Learn more about how ALDH^br cells could be used in regenerative medicine by registering today for an exclusive webinar presented by Dr. Andrew E. Balber of Cicada Biopharmaceutical Consulting.

Join us on April 7 at:
10AM EST (ideal for Europe) | 2PM EST (ideal for Americas) | 8PM EST (ideal for Asia-Pacific)

1Reviewed in Balber AE. Stem Cells (in press). DOI: 10.1002/stem.613.
Dr. Balber holds equity in and is a consultant to Aldagen, Inc., a company that is developing research, diagnostic, and therapeutic products based on detecting and isolating ALDH^br cells.

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Tumor Metastasis with a Twist
Scientists identify a unique function of Twist1 in later life: it promotes the formation of invadopodia in tumor cells, a vital step in the spread of such cells. [Press release from the University of California, San Diego discussing online prepublication in Cancer Cell]

Twist1-Induced Invadopodia Formation Promotes Tumor Metastasis
Researchers report that Twist1 is capable of promoting the formation of invadopodia, specialized membrane protrusions for extracellular matrix degradation. [Cancer Cell]

The Generation of Biomolecular Patterns in Highly Porous Collagen-GAG Scaffolds Using Direct Photolithography
Researchers present a benzophenone based direct, photolithographic approach to spatially pattern solution phase biomolecules within collagen-GAG scaffolds and demonstrate creation of a wide range of patterns composed of multiple biomolecular species in a manner independent from scaffold fabrication steps. [Biomaterials]

A Proteomic Analysis of Engineered Tendon Formation Under Dynamic Mechanical Loading In Vitro
Mechanical loading resulted in a more mature tendon tissue characterized by a firmer tissue texture and densely deposited matrices which formed longitudinally aligned collagen fibers in a highly compact fashion. [Biomaterials]

The Use of Laminin Modified Linear Ordered Collagen Scaffolds Loaded with Laminin-Binding Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor for Sciatic Nerve Regeneration in Rats
Researchers cross-linked linear ordered collagen scaffold fibers with laminin which is a major component of the extracellular matrix in nervous system. [Biomaterials]

Promotion of Skin Regeneration in Diabetic Rats by Electrospun Core-Sheath Fibers Loaded with Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor
The results demonstrate the potential use of basic fibroblast growth factor-loaded electrospun fibrous mats to rapidly restore the structural and functional properties of wounded skin for patients with diabetic mellitus. [Biomaterials]

Dermatopontin Interacts with Fibronectin, Promotes Fibronectin Fibril Formation, and Enhances Cell Adhesion
Results suggest that dermatopontin has an accelerating role in fibroblast cell adhesion to the provisional matrix in the initial stage of wound healing. [J Biol Chem]

An Extracellular Matrix, Calmodulin-Binding Protein from Dictyostelium with EGF-Like Repeats That Enhance Cell Motility
CyrA is the first extracellular calmodulin-binding protein identified in Dictyostelium and since it is an extracellular matrix protein with EGF-like repeats that enhance cell motility it likely also represents the first matricellular protein identified in a lower eukaryote. [Cell Signal]

Designing a Tubular Matrix of Oriented Collagen Fibrils for Tissue Engineering
Researchers introduce a novel, straightforward flow processing technique that fabricates a small-diameter tubular matrix constructed of anisotropic collagen fibrils. [Acta Biomater]

Syndecan-1 and -4 Differentially Regulate Oncogenic K-ras Dependent Cell Invasion into Collagen Through α2β1 Integrin and MT1-MMP
Data demonstrate the existence of a complex interplay between integrin α2β1, MT1-MMP, and syndecans in the invasion of K-ras mutant cells in 3D collagen that may represent a mechanism by which tumor cells become more invasive and metastatic. [Matrix Biol]

Collagen VI Is a Basement Membrane Component That Regulates Epithelial Cell-Fibronectin Interactions
The data demonstrate that collagen VI is an important basal lamina component involved in the regulation of epithelial cell behavior most notably as a regulator of epithelial cell-fibronectin interactions. [Matrix Biol]

Effect of Orientation and Targeted Extracellular Matrix Degradation on Annulus Fibrosus Shear Mechanical Properties
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of tissue orientation and enzymatic degradation of glycosaminoglycan and elastin on annulus fibrosus shear mechanical properties. [J Mech Behav Biomed Mater]

UMass, U.K. Stem Cell Banks Sign Agreement
As part of Governor Deval Patrick’s Innovation Economy Partnership Mission 2011, global leaders in the field of stem cell banking and characterization—the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Human Stem Cell Bank and Registry and the United Kingdom Stem Cell Bank—signed an agreement to share best practices for stem cell banking and to collaborate on standards for stem cell line characterization, production and distribution in the U.S. and U.K. [University of Massachusetts Medical School Press Release]

Biomedical Structures Acquires Medical Textile Manufacturer Concordia Medical
Biomedical Structures, LLC announced the acquisition of medical textile manufacturer Concordia Medical, LLC, a division of Concordia Manufacturing, LLC.  [Biomedical Structures, LLC Press Release]

Halozyme Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2010 Financial Results
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

New Clinical Trial to Treat Skin Disorder Begins
A Phase II trial to treat skin erosions in patients suffering from the severe genetic skin disorder, Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, began, led by a team of scientists and clinicians at King’s Health Partners. [King’s College London Press Release]

The Wound Institute® Launches Educational Course on Dynamic Reciprocity
The Wound Institute announced the launch of a new educational module “Dynamic Reciprocity in Wound Healing,” an online course designed to help practicing wound care specialists better understand the role that dynamic reciprocity is thought to play in the physiology of wound healing. [PR Newswire]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)
 
European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW 7th Annual Protein Engineering Summit (PEGS)
May 9-13, 2011
Boston, United States

NEW International Conference and Exhibition on Cancer Science & Therapy
August 15-17, 2011
Las Vegas, United States

NEW National Cancer Research Institute Cancer Conference
November 6-9, 2011
Liverpool, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the extracellular matrix community.

Lab Technologist – Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

Assistant Professor (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering)

Field Applications Specialist – Cell Therapy (Medical) (Pall Corporation)

Postdoctoral Researcher Biophysics of Cell Attachment to Biomaterials (Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials)

Postdoctoral Researcher (University of California – Irvine)

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