Extracellular Matrix News Volume 5.37 | Sep 25 2014

NEDD9/Arf6-Dependent Endocytic Trafficking of Matrix Metalloproteinase 14: A Novel Mechanism for Blocking Mesenchymal Cell Invasion and Metastasis of Breast Cancer
Researchers found that NEDD9 is required for matrix metalloproteinase 14 enzymatic recovery/recycling through the late endosomes to enable disengagement of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and tumor invasion. [Oncogene] Abstract

MicroRNA Mimicry Blocks Pulmonary Fibrosis
The miR-29 family has gained a lot of attention for its clear function in tissue fibrosis. This fibroblast-enriched microRNA (miRNA) family is downregulated in fibrotic diseases which induces a coordinate increase of many extracellular matrix genes. Scientists show that intravenous injection of synthetic RNA duplexes can increase miR-29 levels in vivo for several days. [EMBO Mol Med] Full Article | Press Release

Absence of Fibromodulin Affects Matrix Composition, Collagen Deposition and Cell Turnover in Healthy and Fibrotic Lung Parenchyma
Scientists investigated the role of fibromodulin in healthy and fibrotic lung parenchyma, theorizing that fibromodulin-deficient animals would be protected against fibrosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Towards an In Vitro Model Mimicking the Foreign Body Response: Tailoring the Surface Properties of Biomaterials to Modulate Extracellular Matrix
Researchers developed an in vitro model to modulate the host response by tuning biomaterials’ surface properties through surface modifications techniques as a new strategy for tissue regeneration applications. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Arthroscopic Airbrush Assisted Cell Implantation for Cartilage Repair in the Knee: A Controlled Laboratory and Human Cadaveric Study
An airbrush device was used to spray both human expanded osteoarthritic chondrocytes and choncrocytes with their pericellular matrix at 1×10⁶ cells/ml fibrin glue in vitro. Depth-dependent cell viability was assessed for both methods with confocal microscopy. [Osteoarthritis Cartilage] Abstract

Unique Proliferation Response in Odontoblastic Cells Derived from Human Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells by Cytokine-Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase-3
Scientists investigated the effects of cytokine mixture-induced matrix metalloproteinase-3 up-regulation on the proliferation and apoptosis of purified odontoblast-like cells derived from human skeletal muscle stem cells. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Dynamics of Telopodes (Telocyte Prolongations) in Cell Culture Depends on Extracellular Matrix Protein
Researchers comparatively investigated, by time-lapse videomicroscopy, the dynamics of telopodes of mouse heart telocytes seeded on collagen, fibronectin, and laminin. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract | Full Article

Fluvastatin Attenuated the Effect of Expression of β1 Integrin in PAN-Treated Podocytes by Inhibiting Reactive Oxygen Species
Scientists investigated the effect and mechanism of fluvastatin on the expression of β1 integrin in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-treated podocytes in vitro. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

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

BellBrook Labs and UW-Madison Team Awarded NCI Contract to Develop Next Generation Cancer Models
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded a $1.75 million Small Business Innovative Research contract to BellBrook Labs for a collaborative effort with researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to develop more realistic models for breast and ovarian cancer. The research will be directed at understanding how the scaffolding that cells attach to, called the extracellular matrix, affects cancer cell growth, motility and response to chemotherapeutic drugs. [BellBrook Labs, LLC (Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC)] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Matrix Biology (Boise State University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes / Kidney Disease / Extracellular Matrix (Vanderbilt University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Matrix Interactions and Progression of Kidney Disease (F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Animal Surgery (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Position – Proteases and Extracellular Matrix (GENYO)

PhD Position – Biomaterials/Cartilage Regeneration (Peking University)

PhD Student – Bioengineering (George Mason University)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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