| TOP STORY | Microfabricated Collagen Tracks Facilitate Single Cell Metastatic Invasion in 3D Recent studies have shown that some cancer cells can use proteolysis to mechanically rearrange their extracellular matrix to form tube-like microtracks, which other cells can follow without using matrix metalloproteinases themselves. The authors speculate that this mode of migration in the secondary cells may be one example of migration, that can occur without endogenous protease activity in the secondary cells. They present a technique to study this migration in a 3D, collagen-based environment that mimics the size and topography of the tracks produced by proteolytically active cancer cells. [Integr Biol] Abstract |
| PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal) | The Phosphoinositide-Binding Protein ZF21 Regulates ECM Degradation by Invadopodia Researchers demonstrated that ZF21 regulates invasion of tumor cells, whereas it does not affect the overall production of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MT1-MMP by the cells. Also, they observed that the extracellular matrix (ECM)-degrading activity specifically at the invadopodia is severely abrogated. [PLoS One] Full Article Up-Regulation of Tension-Related Proteins in Keloids: Knockdown of Hsp27, α2β1-Integrin, and PAI-2 Shows Convincing Reduction of Extracellular Matrix Production Mechanical tension promotes deposition of extracellular matrix and overexpression of tension-related proteins, which is associated with keloid disease. Scientists aimed to investigate the effect of tension-related proteins on extracellular matrix steady-state synthesis in primary keloid fibroblasts. [Plast Reconstr Surg] Abstract Comparison of In Vivo Adipogenic Capabilities of Two Different Extracellular Matrix Microparticle Scaffolds Adipose tissue extract microparticle scaffolds from human adipose tissue and small intestine submucosa microparticle scaffolds from porcine jejunum were prepared. Their effects on the adipogenic capabilities of human adipose-derived stem cells were compared in vivo. [Plast Reconstr Surg] Abstract Potential Role of Fibronectin in Microglia/Macrophage Activation following Cryoinjury in the Rat Brain: An Immunohistochemical Study To investigate whether fibronectin plays a role in the activation of microglia/macrophages after brain injury, the authors examined the changes in fibronectin and arginase-1, a marker for alternatively activated macrophages, in a rat cryoinjury model using Western blot analysis, real-time reverse transcription PCR and immunohistochemistry. [Brain Res] Abstract Importance of Depth-Wise Distribution of Collagen and Proteoglycans in Articular Cartilage-A 3D Finite Element Study of Stresses and Strains in Human Knee Joint The authors investigated the importance of the proteoglycan and collagen distributions for cartilage stresses and strains resulting from dynamic joint loading and mechanical equilibrium in a knee joint. [J Biomech] Abstract Phenotypic Redifferentiation and Cell Cluster Formation of Cultured Human Articular Chondrocytes in a Three-Dimensional Oriented Gelatin Scaffold in the Presence of PGE2 – First Results of a Pilot Study Investigators analyzed if prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has an effect on the phenotypic differentiation of human chondrocytes cultured in a three-dimensional (3D) gelatin-based scaffold made by directional freezing and subsequent freeze-drying. They demonstrated that low doses of PGE2 revealed beneficial effects on the phenotypic differentiation and collagen II expression of human articular chondrocytes in this 3D cell culture system. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 Shows Antitumor Effects by Enhancing the Release of TRAIL from Neutrophils through MMP-8 Scientists found that Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM588) induces the release of endogenous tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) from polymorphonuclear neutrophils as well as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin. In addition, they showed that matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) is one of the key factors responsible for the release. [Int J Oncol] Abstract Virus Activated Artificial ECM Induces the Osteoblastic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells without Osteogenic Supplements Biochemical and topographical features of an artificial extracellular matrix (aECM) can direct stem cell fate. However, it is difficult to vary only the biochemical cues without changing nanotopography to study their unique role. Scientists took advantage of two unique features of M13 phage, a non-toxic nanofiber-like virus, to generate a virus-activated aECM with constant ordered ridge/groove nanotopography but displaying different fibronectin-derived peptides. [Sci Rep] Full Article |
| REVIEWS | Bit1 in Anoikis Resistance and Tumor Metastasis Recent studies have identified the mitochondrial Bcl2-inhibitor of transcription (Bit1) protein as part of a novel anoikis pathway. This review focuses on the biological function of Bit1 in the anoikis process, the underlying molecular mechanism of Bit1 apoptotic function, and its role in tumor metastasis. [Cancer Lett] Abstract Synstatin: A Selective Inhibitor of the Syndecan-1-Coupled IGF1R-αvβ3 Integrin Complex in Tumorigenesis and Angiogenesis Much effort has focused on developing therapeutics that target the αvβ3 integrin in various cancers. Along these lines, the site in the syndecan-1 (Sdc1) ectodomain responsible for capture and activation of the αvβ3 or αvβ5 integrins by insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) can be mimicked by a short peptide called synstatin (SSTN), which competitively displaces the integrin and IGF1R kinase from the syndecan and inactivates the complex. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the Sdc1-coupled ternary receptor complex and the efficacy of SSTN as an emerging therapeutic to target this signaling mechanism. [FEBS J] Abstract | Full Article Nanostructured Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering This review presents the mechanism of interactions between nanoscaled materials and cells and focuses on the current research status of nanostructured scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract |
| INDUSTRY NEWS | Regenerative Medicine Research Helped by AAA Fellowship Research into repairing diseased tissues in Australia will be boosted by the addition of a visiting American scholar. The research, to be conducted at Oschner Clinical School in the United States and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland is at the crest of the next wave in healthcare in recruiting the body’s own cells and repair systems to heal injured or diseased tissue. University of Colorado graduate Jason Ross has won the prestigious 2013 American Australian Association (AAA) fellowship to advance his research. [The University of Queensland] Press Release RBCC: n3D Technology Could Lead to Lab-Grown Implantable Organs The magnetic levitation technology that Rainbow Coral Corp. (RBCC) and joint venture partner Nano3D BioSciences (n3D) recently used to grow lifelike human lung tissue could one day lead to an even more astonishing breakthrough-lab-grown, implantable human organs. Rainbow BioSciences, RBCC’s biotech division, signed a joint venture agreement with n3D last year to help develop and market the Bio-Assembler. The device utilizes a proprietary process to enable scientists to grow cells in a three-dimensional environment using nanoparticles that produce magnetic fields to lift cells from the bottom of petri dishes. [Business Wire] Press Release |
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