Extracellular Matrix News Volume 2.20 | May 26 2011

‘Blueprint’ for Blocking MMP May Unlock New Treatments for Deadly Blood Infection
Researchers studying the life threatening infectious disease sepsis have discovered how the infection can lead to a fatal inflammatory response through blood vessel cells. The research focuses on blocking crucial matrix metalloprotease enzymes (MMP) which activate the response. [Press release from ScienceDaily discussing online prepublication in EMBO Molecular Medicine]

Resistance Artery Mechanics and Composition in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Effects of Cyclooxygenase-1 Inhibition
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 on vascular alterations in structure, mechanics, and extracellular matrix components induced by angiotensin II in mesenteric arteries from wild-type and COX-1 knockout (COX-1-/-) mice. [Eur Heart J]

Global Defects in Collagen Secretion in a Mia3/TANGO1 Knockout Mouse
In this paper, researchers show that mice lacking Mia3 are defective for the secretion of numerous collagens, including collagens I, II, III, IV, VII, and IX, from chondrocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and mural cells. [J Cell Biol]

Integrin Activation and Internalization on Soft ECM as a Mechanism of Induction of Stem Cell Differentiation by ECM Elasticity
By using an antibody specifically recognizing the active conformation of ß1 integrin, researchers observed that ß1 integrin activation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was induced by soft substrate to a significantly greater degree than by stiff substrate. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]

Dynamics of Enzymatic Digestion of Elastic Fibers and Networks Under Tension
Researchers incorporate the fiber model into a multiscale network model of the extracellular matrix and find that network effects do not mask the exponential decay of stiffness at the fiber level. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]

The Structural and Biological Properties of Hydroxyapatite-Modified Titanate Nanowire Scaffolds
Hydroxyapatite-modified titanate nanowire scaffolds as alternative materials for tissue engineering have been developed via a titanate nanowire matrix assisted electrochemical deposition method. [Biomaterials]

Adsorption and Conformation Behavior of Biotinylated Fibronectin on Streptavidin-Modified TiO_X Surfaces Studied by SPR and AFM
Researchers were able to show that TiO_X surfaces modified with biotinylated fibronectin adsorbed on a streptavidin-silane self-assembly multilayer system are more effective regarding osteoblast adhesion than surfaces modified with nonspecifically bound fibronectin. [Langmuir]

Transforming Growth Factor-ß3 Regulates Assembly of a Non-Fibrotic Matrix in a 3D Corneal Model
In this study, researchers tested the effects of all three TGFß isoforms (-ß1, -ß2 and -ß3) on extracellular matrix production, as well as expression of fibrotic markers. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med]

Differential Response of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) to Morphogens of Bone Morphogenetic Protein/Transforming Growth Factor-ß Family in the Surface, Middle and Deep Zones of Articular Cartilage
Researchers investigated the role of bone morphogenetic protein/transforming growth factor-ß (BMP/TGFß) superfamily members on COMP. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med]

SPARC Mediates Early Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Following Myocardial Infarction
Collagen deposition to form a scar is a key event following a myocardial infarction (MI). Because the roles of SPARC in the early post-MI setting have not been defined, researchers examined age-matched wild type (WT; n=22) and SPARC deficient (Null; n=25) mice at day 3 post-MI. [Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol]

A Matrix Metalloprotease (MMP)-PAR1 System Regulates Vascular Integrity, Systemic Inflammation and Death in Sepsis
The findings implicate MMP-1 as an important activator of PAR1 in sepsis and suggest that therapeutics that target MMP1-PAR1 may prove beneficial in the treatment of sepsis. [EMBO Mol Med]

Biomerix Corporation Reaches European Distribution Agreement with Cellon S.A.
Biomerix Corporation and Cellon announced a strategic distribution agreement for the Biomerix 3D Scaffold, a novel three-dimensional tissue scaffold. Under the agreement, Cellon will market and distribute the Biomerix 3D Scaffold to research institutions across Europe. [Biomerix Corporation Press Release]

Kensey Nash Acquires Assets of Synthes’ Norian Subsidiary
Kensey Nash Corporation announced it has acquired the assets comprising the product lines of Synthes Inc.’s Norian subsidiary for $22 million in cash. [Kensey Nash Corporation Press Release]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

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

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NEW Matrix Signals: Cell-Matrix Interactions in Health and Disease
September 8-9, 2011
Newcastle, United Kingdom

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Quality Assurance Manager – Program in Children’s Regenerative Medicine (The University of Texas Medical School at Houston)

Postdoctoral Fellow in Systems Microscopy of Cell Migration (Karolinska Institutet)

Research Associate in Synthetic Biology (Institute of Systems and Synthetic Biology)

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