Extracellular Matrix News Volume 4.00 | Jan 3 2013

Cadherin-Based Intercellular Adhesions Organize Epithelial Cell-Matrix Traction Forces
Researchers combined experiment and theory to reveal how intercellular adhesions modulate forces transmitted to the extracellular matrix. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Noncanonical WNT-5A Signaling Regulates TGF-β-Induced Extracellular Matrix Production by Airway Smooth Muscle Cells
Scientists investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-induced extracellular matrix (ECM) expression by airway smooth muscle cells and demonstrate a novel link between TGF-β and Wingless/integrase 1 (WNT) signaling in ECM deposition. [FASEB J] Abstract

Extracellular Matrix Modulator Lysyl Oxidase Colocalizes with Amyloid-Beta Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease and Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage with Amyloidosis-Dutch Type
Although the mechanisms underlying cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and senile plaques (SP) formation remain largely unknown, evidence is mounting that local alterations of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the brain vessel wall and/or parenchyma play an important role. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is an inducible amine oxidase that modulates the ECM by catalyzing the formation of molecular covalent cross-links in ECM proteins. The authors investigated the association of LOX with CAA and with classic and diffuse SPs in both Alzheimer’s disease and hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis of the Dutch type cases. [Exp Gerontol] Abstract

Gingival Fibroblast Responsiveness Is Differentially Affected by Porphyromonas gingivalis: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Periodontitis
Scientists hypothesized that fibroblast-responsiveness to a bacterial challenge could be affected by live P. gingivalis. They investigated if inflammatory responses of gingival fibroblasts to P. gingivalis were altered, when the fibroblasts had encountered P. gingivalis previously. [Mol Oral Microbiol] Abstract

Stimuli Responsive Deswelling of Radiation Synthesized Collagen Hydrogel in Simulated Physiological Environment
Investigators elucidated the deswelling mechanism of radiation crosslinked collagen hydrogel in simulated physiological environment and provides strategies for controlling the stimuli response of collagen hydrogel in biomedical application. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Fibronectin Induces MMP2 Expression in Human Prostate Cancer Cells
Researchers aimed to verify if culture conditions with fibronectin alters matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and MMP9 expression by human prostatic epithelial cell lines RWPE-1, LNCaP and PC-3. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Confined Compression of Collagen Hydrogels
The mechanical behavior of collagen hydrogels in confined compression was investigated using biphasic theory, to ascertain whether the technique is sufficiently sensitive to determine differences in the characteristics of hydrogels of between 0.2% and 0.4% collagen. [J Biomech] Abstract

Biodegradable and Bioactive Porous Scaffold Structures Prepared Using Fused Deposition Modeling
The authors aimed to examine the creation of biodegradable porous scaffold structures using different materials in fused deposition modeling and to determine the compressive properties and the fibroblast cell response of the structures. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract

Presenilin-1 Regulates the Constitutive Turnover of the Fibronectin Matrix in Endothelial Cells
Investigators report that primary as well as continuously passaged presenilin-1 (PS1)-/- endothelial cells contain more fibronectin than wild type cells and that the excess fibronectin in PS1-/- endothelial cells is incorporated into a fibrillar network. [BMC Biochem] Abstract | Full Article

Halozyme Therapeutics and Pfizer Enter into a Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize Subcutaneous Biologics Using Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has entered into a worldwide Collaboration and License Agreement with Pfizer Inc. for the purpose of developing and commercializing products combining proprietary Pfizer biologics with Halozyme’s Enhanze™ technology. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Soft Tissue Regeneration Receives FDA Clearance to Market Breakthrough Rotator Cuff Repair Device
Soft Tissue Regeneration announced that it has received FDA clearance to market its STR GRAFT, a biodegradable scaffold used for soft tissue augmentation and rotator cuff repair. Developed by Cato T. Laurencin, an orthopedic surgeon and the company’s founder, the STR GRAFT is a three-dimensional braided engineered matrix that Laurencin likens to a patch. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

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 REGEN 2013 – Clinical Trials & Reimbursement
March 19-21, 2013
Boston, United States

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

Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

MSc – Future Opportunities (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

PhD – Future Opportunities (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Senior Scientist – Hard Tissue Engineering (University de Limoges)

Staff Scientist – Stem Cell-Based Therapy Manufacturing (City of Hope Medical Group )

Early Stage Researcher – Laser-Made 3D Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications (FORTH)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cell Therapy & Tissue Engineering in Heart Disease (Dipartimento di Scienze e Biotecnologie medico-chirurgiche)

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