Extracellular Matrix News Volume 4.32 | Aug 15 2013

Procollagen III N-Terminal Propeptide and Desmosine Are Released by Matrix Destruction in Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Researchers investigated the hypothesis that matrix metalloproteinases activity generates matrix turnover products as correlates of lung pathology. [J Infect Dis] Abstract | Press Release

The EDA-Containing Cellular Fibronectin Induces Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Cancer Cells through Integrin α9β1-Mediated Activation of PI3-K /Akt and Erk1/2
The authors found that cellular fibronectin, but not plasma fibronectin or type 1 collagen, induces lung carcinoma cell scattering in vitro, promotes cell migration and invasion of Matrigel, and stimulates the expression of the mesenchymal marker α-smooth muscle actin, while decreasing the expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin through PI3-K and Erk pathways. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

The Importance of Size-Exclusion Characteristics of Type I Collagen in Bonding to Dentin Matrices
Investigators studied the size-exclusion characteristics of dentin collagen, using a gel-filtration-like column chromatography technique, using dentin powder instead of Sephadex. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Role of Collagen Matrix in Tumor Angiogenesis and Glioblastoma Multiforme Progression
Scientists showed that physical compaction (the process in which cells gather and pack together and cause associated changes in cell shape and size) of human glioblastoma cell lines U87MG, U251, and LN229 induces expression of collagen types IV and VI and the collagen crosslinking enzyme lysyl oxidase and up-regulates in vitro expression of the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

In Vitro Evaluation of Plant-Derived Agents to Preserve Dentin Collagen
Scientists investigated the effect of various plant-derived agents (hesperidin, proanthocyanidin, epigallocatechin gallate and genipin) on the stability of dentin collagen matrix to resist collagenase degradation. [Dent Mater] Abstract

Microrheological Characterization of Collagen Systems: From Molecular Solutions to Fibrillar Gels
Using optical-tweezers-based microrheology, researchers investigated mechanical properties both of collagen molecules at a range of concentrations in acidic solution where fibrils cannot form and of gels of collagen fibrils formed at neutral pH, as well as the development of microscale mechanical heterogeneity during the self-assembly process. [PLoS One] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exploit Extracellular Matrix as Mechanotransducer
Investigators showed that human mesenchymal stem cells harvest and assemble plasma fibronectin into their extracellular matrix fibrils within 24 hours. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Matrix Mechanics and Regulation of the Fibroblast Phenotype
This review elaborates on the roles of mechanical factors and mechanoperception in fibroblast activation, the molecular features of activated fibroblasts and the regulation mechanisms of fibroblast contraction. Pharmacological interference at each level is currently being pursued to improve the outcome of healing of injured periodontal tissue. [Periodontol 2000] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the extracellular matrix research field.

Grafix^® Demonstrates Overwhelming Efficacy in Landmark Stem Cell Study for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. reported that its multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing the safety and effectiveness of Grafix^® to standard of care in patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers had met the pre-specified stopping rules for overwhelming efficacy as determined by the data monitoring committee during a planned interim analysis. Grafix is a human cellular repair matrix containing living stem cells for acute and chronic wound repair. [Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

$1 Million Gift to Fund Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Research at Baylor College of Medicine
With a new $1 million gift, Baylor College of Medicine geneticist Dr. Brendan Lee hopes to broaden understanding of the mechanisms of Ehlers Danlos syndrome, an incurable, inherited connective tissue disorder in which the body does not make enough collagen, resulting in weakened tendons and ligaments and ultimately poor skin healing and hypermobile joints. [Baylor College of Medicine] Press Release

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 wallchart from our sponsor: Mesenchymal Stem Cells (A Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology collaboration). Request your free copy.

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

PhD Student – Coronary Artery Research (Erasmus MC)

PhD Position – Molecular Biomechanics of α-Actin Remodeling (Eindhoven University of Technology)

PhD Position – Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine (Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering (Weizmann Institute of Science)

PhD Position – Molecular Cell Biology (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanisms Contributing to Metastases of Breast Cancer Cells (Mount Sinai Medical Center/Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Assistant/Associate Professor Position – Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (Universite de Montreal)

Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.