Extracellular Matrix News Volume 5.20 | May 29 2014

Capillary-Wall Collagen as a Biophysical Marker of Nanotherapeutic Permeability into the Tumor Microenvironment
Using a computational model along with in vivo systems, researchers compared how collagen structure affects the diffusion flux of a 1 nm chemotherapeutic molecule and an 80 nm chemotherapy-loaded pegylated liposome in tumor vasculature. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Macrophage Polarization in Response to ECM Coated Polypropylene Mesh
Spatiotemporal analysis of macrophage polarization was conducted in response to uncoated polypropylene mesh and mesh coated with hydrated and dry forms of extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels derived from either dermis or urinary bladder. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Snail1 Induced in Breast Cancer Cells in 3D Collagen I Gel Environment Suppresses Cortactin and Impairs Effective Invadopodia Formation
Investigators explored the behaviors of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells embedded in 3D collagen I. Diverse tumor environmental conditions (including cell density, extracellular acidity, or hypoxia as mimics for a continuous tumor growth) reduced JNKs, enhanced TGFβ1/Smad signaling activity, induced Snail1, and reduced cortactin expression. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Banded Structures in Collagen Vitrified Gels for Corneal Injury Repair
There is a growing interest in using collagen vitrified gels for corneal injury repair. The authors recently reported the synthesis and thermal denaturation behavior of these collagen vitrified gels. In this paper, the banded structure in these vitrified gels was studied by small-angle x-ray scattering one dimensional correlation function analysis and transmission electron microscopy. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Proteomics of Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Support that the Extracellular Matrix of Descemet’s Membrane Is Disordered
As the morphological changes in Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy are mainly observed in the extracellular matrix of the Descemet’s membrane/endothelial layer, scientists determined the protein profiles of diseased and control tissues using two relative quantitation MS methods. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

The Metastatic Potential of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Is Decreased via Caloric Restriction-Mediated Reduction of the miR-17~92 Cluster
Scientists sought to determine if the molecular interaction between caloric restriction (CR) and ionizing radiation (IR) could be mediated by microRNA (miR). miR arrays revealed three miRs in the miR-17~92 cluster as most significantly down regulated when CR is combined with IR. To elucidate the mechanism by which this cluster regulates the response to CR, cDNA arrays were performed and the top five statistically significant gene ontology terms with high fold changes were all associated with extracellular matrix and metastases. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract | Press Release

3D Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds by Microfluidic Fabrication for Long-Term Spontaneously Contracted Cardiomyocytes Culture
Primary neonatal mice cardiomyocytes were successfully harvested and cultured in 3D scaffolds made of gelatin and collagen. Gelatin and gelatin-collagen scaffold were produced by the formation of microbubbles through a microfluidic device and the mechanical properties of gelatin scaffold and gelatin-collagen scaffold were measured. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Excreted/Secreted Schistosoma mansoni Venom Allergen-Like 9 (SmVAL9) Modulates Host Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Gene Expression
Scientists demonstrate that recombinant SmVAL9 affects the expression of extracellular matrix, remodeling matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase gene products in both Biomphalaria glabrata embryonic cell and Mus musculus bone marrow-derived macrophage in vitro cultures. [Int J Parasitol]
Full Article

Structural Characterization and Interaction of Periostin and Bone Morphogenetic Protein for Regulation of Collagen Cross-Linking
Periostin has the ability to associate with other critical extracellular matrix regulators such as transforming growth factor-β, tenascin, and fibronectin, and is a critical regulator of fibrosis that functions by altering the deposition and attachment of collagen. To investigate the molecular interaction of periostin and bone morphogenetic protein, researchers modeled these three-dimensional structures and their binding sites. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

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Stem Cell Research on Campus Grows after $3 Million Boost
Cornell Stem Cell Program researchers Professor John Schimenti and Nikitin received $3 million from the New York State Stem Cell Science program of the New York State Department of Health to support the Stem Cell Modeling and Phenotyping Core. [Cornell University] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Position – Proteases and Extracellular Matrix (GENYO)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell and Extracellular Matrix Biology (Johns Hopkins University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – How Breast Cancer Cells Regulate Anchorage-Independent Survival to Overcome Anoikis (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Position – 3D Structured Engineered Tissues (Nano Fiber Matrices B.V.)

PhD Position – Patterned Biomaterial Degradation to Guide Cell Response, Extracellular Matrix Deposition and In Vivo Tissue Regeneration (Universitaetsmedizin Berlin)

Postdoctoral Position – Extracellular RNA Bioinformatics and Biology (University of California, Los Angeles)

Postdoctoral Position – Macromolecule Stabilization (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Position – Therapeutic Advantages of the Combined Use of Scaffold and Cells for Orthopedic Applications (Bone Therapeutics S.A.)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

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

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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