Extracellular Matrix News Volume 4.22 | Jun 6 2013

Expression of the α5 Integrin Gene in Corneal Epithelial Cells Cultured on Tissue-Engineered Human Extracellular Matrices
Researchers examined whether α5 expression is similarly altered when rabbit corneal epithelial cells or human corneal epithelial cells are grown on a reconstructed stromal matrix used as an underlying biomaterial. Mass spectrometry and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that the biomaterial matrix produced by culturing human corneal fibroblasts with ascorbic acid (ECM/35d) contains several types of collagens, fibronectin, tenascin and proteoglycans. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Mild and Efficient Strategy for Site-Selective Aldehyde Modification of Glycosaminoglycans: Tailoring Hydrogels with Tunable Release of Growth Factor
Scientists report a mild and simple method to graft aldehydes groups on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in a site-selective manner without compromising the structural integrity of the biopolymer. They further utilized these aldehyde grafted GAGs to tailor extracellular matrix mimetic injectable hydrogels and evaluated its rheological properties. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

Suppression and Activation of the Malignant Phenotype by Extracellular Matrix in Xenograft Models of Bladder Cancer: A Model for Tumor Cell “Dormancy”
Researchers determined that cancer cells suppressed by SISgel, a gel-forming normal extracellular matrix material derived from small intestine submucosa, in flank xenografts showed properties of suppression and re-activation that are very similar to normal delayed metastasis and suggest these suppressed cells can serve as a novel model for developing therapeutics to target micrometastases or suppressed cancer cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

P190B RhoGAP Overexpression in the Developing Mammary Epithelium Induces TGFβ-Dependent Fibroblast Activation
The authors hypothesized that mammary epithelial cell (MEC) overexpression of p190B regulates paracrine interactions to impact fibroblast activation. Using a combination of in vivo morphometric and immunohistochemical analyses and primary cell culture assays, they found that p190B overexpression in MECs activates fibroblasts leading to increased collagen, fibronectin, and laminin production and elevated expression of the collagen crosslinking enzyme lysyl oxidase. [PLoS One] Full Article

Integrin-Mediated Interactions with Extracellular Matrix Proteins for Nucleus Pulposus Cells of the Human Intervertebral Disc
Since human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells lose many phenotypic characteristics with age, attachment and interaction with the extracellular matrix (ECM) may be altered. Expression of laminin (LM)-binding integrins was quantified for human NP cells using flow cytometry. The cell-ECM attachment mechanism was determined by quantifying cell attachment to LM-111, LM-511, or type II collagen after functionally blocking specific integrin subunits. [J Orthop Res] Abstract

Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Hydroxyapatite Hybrid Hydrogel as a Composite Material for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications
The biological performance of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-hydroxyapatite (HA) hydrogels were tested by using osteoblast MG63 line and compared with a CMC-based hydrogel without HA. The evaluation of osteoblast markers and gene expression showed that the addition of HA to CMC hydrogel enhanced cell proliferation and metabolic activity and promoted the production of mineralized extracellular matrix. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

3D Microfluidic Collagen Hydrogels for Investigating Flow-Mediated Tumor-Endothelial Signaling and Vascular Organization
Scientists developed a three-dimensional (3D), in vitro microfluidic tumor vascular model for co-culture of tumor and endothelial cells under varying flow shear stress conditions. A central microchannel embedded within a collagen hydrogel functions as a single neovessel through which tumor-relevant hydrodynamic stresses are introduced and quantified using micro-particle image velocimetry. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods] Abstract

Sosei Announces Establishment of a Regenerative Medicine Fund
Sosei Group announced they resolved to invest in the regenerative medicine fund run by the newly-established subsidiary Sosei Corporate Venture Capital (Sosei CVC). Sosei CVC manages a new fund for the purpose of investing in companies developing regenerative medicine technologies (including but not limited to tissue engineering and cell therapy/regenerative cell therapy, and related devices/equipment). [Sosei Group Corporation] Press Release

AxoGen, Inc. Announces Health Canada Approval for AxoGuard^® Nerve Connector and AxoGuard^® Nerve Protector
AxoGen, Inc. announced Health Canada Approval for AxoGuard^® Nerve Connector and AxoGuard^® Nerve Protector. AxoGuard^® Nerve Connector and AxoGuard^® Nerve Protector are derived from porcine submucosa extracellular matrix. AxoGuard^® Nerve Connector is a coaptation aid for tensionless repair of severed nerves, and AxoGuard^® Nerve Protector is used to wrap and protect injured peripheral nerves and reinforce coaptation sites while preventing soft tissue attachments. [AxoGen, Inc.] 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 Matrix Biology Society of Australia & New Zealand Annual Meeting
October 20-23, 2013
Adelaide, Australia

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

NEW PhD Position – 3D Structured Self-Assembled Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering (Delft University of Technology)

PhD Position – Tissue Engineering (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)

PhD Studentship – ECM Components in Human Genetic Disorders (McGill University)

Postdoctoral Studentship – Molecular Biomechanics of α-Actin Remodeling (Eindhoven University of Technology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Price Gilbert, Jr. Chair in Regenerative Engineering and Medicine (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Postdoctoral Position – Extracellular Matrix + Developmental Biology (Purdue University)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering (Weizmann Institute of Science)

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