The Cellular Origin of Laminin Determines Its Role in Blood Pressure Regulation The authors investigated the role of smooth muscle cell (SMC)- and nestin+ cell-derived laminin in blood pressure (BP) regulation and SMC contractibility. Using mice with laminin deficiency in SMCs or nestin+ cells, they examined laminin-dependent changes in BP. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract Alteration of Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Adhesion in Urothelial Cells: An Oncogenic Mechanism for Mutant FGFR3 Ectopic expression of mutant fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) in normal urothelial cells has both pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects at confluence, suggesting that mutant cells are insensitive to cell-cell contact inhibition. Detailed analysis reveal that these cells have reduced cell-cell adhesion, with large inter-cellular spaces observable at confluence, and diminished cell-substrate adhesion to collagen IV, collagen I and fibronectin. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract Capsaicin Suppresses the Migration of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells by Down-Regulating Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression via the AMPK-NF-κB Signaling Pathway Scientists investigated the molecular mechanism of the capsaicin-induced anti-migration and anti-invasion effects on HuCCT1 cholangiocarcinoma cells. Migration and invasion were significantly reduced in response to capsaicin. Capsaicin also inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9. [Clin Exp Metastasis] Abstract Disentangling the Multifactorial Contributions of Fibronectin, Collagen and Cyclic Strain on MMP Expression and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling by Fibroblasts Investigators gained insight into the extracellular matrix-driven functional regulation of human foreskin fibroblasts being either anchored to a fibronectin or to a collagen-decorated matrix, in the absence or presence of cyclic mechanical strain. [Matrix Biol] Full Article Expression of Gal-1 in Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Gastric Cancer Cell Invasion through Up-Regulation of Integrin β1 Scientists found that the over-expression of Gal-1 in carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) enhanced gastric cancer cell migration and invasion, and these stimulatory effects could be blocked by specific siRNA which reduced the Gal-1 expression level. Pre-blocking of the integrin β1 expression in gastric cancer cells with siRNA could interrupt the invasion-promoting effect of CAFs with high Gal-1 expression. [Cancer Sci] Abstract Type I Collagen as an Extracellular Matrix for the In Vitro Growth of Human Small Intestinal Epithelium There are concerns over the applicability of Matrigel-based methods for future human therapies. Researchers investigated type I collagen as an alternative for the culture of human intestinal epithelial cells. [PLoS One] Full Article Beta 1 Integrin Binding Plays a Role in the Constant Traction Force Generation in Response to Varying Stiffness for Cells Grown on Mature Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Using traction force microscopy, investigators measured cellular traction forces and stresses for mesenchymal stem cells grown on polyacrylamide gels at a range of stiffnesses containing either adult rat heart extracellular matrix (ECM), different singular ECM proteins including collagen I, fibronectin, and laminin, or ECM mimics comprised of varying amounts of collagen I, fibronectin, and laminin. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract Collagen Attachment to the Substrate Controls Cell Clustering through Migration While the extracellular matrix (ECM) is known to control cell clustering, much of the quantitative work has focused on the analysis of clustering between cells with strong cell-cell junctions. Much less is known about how the ECM regulates cells with weak cell-cell contact. Clustering characteristics were quantified in rat adenocarcinoma cells, which form clusters on physically adsorbed collagen substrates, but not on covalently attached collagen substrates. [Phys Biol] Abstract |