The Concave Face of Decorin Mediates Reversible Dimerization and Collagen Binding Scientists found that mutations on the concave face of decorin abolished collagen binding, regardless of whether the mutant proteins retained the ability to dimerize or not. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Activation of Brain Endothelial Cells by Interleukin-1 Is Regulated by the Extracellular Matrix after Acute Brain Injury Investigators report that extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in the cerebrovasculature critically regulates interleukin (IL)-1-induced endothelial cell activation after cerebral ischaemia. Expression levels of ECM molecules associated with the cerebrovasculature, namely fibronectin and collagen IV, strongly increased in brain blood vessels after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in a time-dependent manner, reaching a peak of vascular expression 48 hours after MCAo. [Mol Cell Neurosci] Abstract Complexation and Sequestration of BMP-2 from an ECM Mimetic Hyaluronan Gel for Improved Bone Formation Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is considered a promising adjuvant for the treatment of skeletal non-union and spinal fusion. However, BMP-2 delivery in a conventional collagen scaffold necessitates a high dose to achieve an efficacious outcome. To lower its effective dose, the authors precomplexed BMP-2 with the glycosaminoglycans dermatan sulfate or heparin, prior to loading it into a hyaluronic acid hydrogel. [PLoS One] Abstract Early Kinetics of Integration of Collagen-Glycosaminoglycan Regenerative Scaffolds in a Diabetic Mouse Model Collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffolds, originally designed to treat severe burns, are now commonly used in patients with complex wounds associated with diabetes mellitus. The authors investigated how the thickness of the scaffold would affect cellular integration with the diabetic host and whether this can be accelerated using subatmospheric pressure wound therapy devices. [Plast Reconstr Surg] Abstract Prostate Transglutaminase (TGase-4, TGaseP) Enhances the Adhesion of Prostate Cancer Cells to Extracellular Matrix, the Potential Role of TGase-Core Domain The impact of TGase-4 on in vitro cell-matrix adhesion, cell migration, growth and in vivo growth were investigated. TGase-4 markedly increased cell-matrix adhesion and cellular migration, and resulted in a rapid growth of prostate tumors in vivo. [J Transl Med] Full Article Conditioned Medium as a Strategy for Human Stem Cells Chondrogenic Differentiation Scientists aimed to achieve chondrogenic differentiation of two different sources of stem cells using conditioned medium, without adding growth factors. They tested both human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBSMCs) and human Wharton’s jelly-derived stem cells (hWJSCs). Cultures using hWJSCs showed significantly higher GAGs accumulation and expression of cartilage-related genes (aggrecan, Sox9 and collagen type II) when compared to hBMSCs cultures. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract Collagen-Chitosan-Laminin Hydrogels for the Delivery of Insulin-Producing Tissue Human circulating angiogenic cells and porcine islet cells embedded in collagen-chitosan hydrogels, with and without laminin, were investigated as potential engineered biomaterials for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Hydrogels were evaluated in vitro for their physical properties and cell compatibility. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract Development of a Rotational Cell-Seeding System for Tubularized Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Scaffolds in Vascular Surgery In this in vitro study a rotational cell-seeding rig (RCR) was constructed to assess the potential for endothelialization of tubular ECM constructs. Human aortic endothelial cells were cultured onto the luminal surfaces of tubular porcine urinary bladder matrix scaffolds and rotated in the RCR at experimental rotational speeds. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract |