Extracellular Matrix News Volume 5.41 | Oct 23 2014

Nano-Bio-Chemical Braille for Cells: The Regulation of Stem Cell Responses Using Bi-Functional Surfaces
Multifunctional surfaces are reported that are capable of regulating cell adhesion and triggering cell differentiation to facilitate osseointegration of implantable devices. [Adv Funct Mater] Abstract

Prestress in the Extracellular Matrix Sensitizes Latent TGF-β1 for Activation
Cell-based assays and unique strain devices were used to produce a cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) of controlled organization and prestrain. Mechanically conditioned ECM served as a substrate to measure the efficacy of TGF-β1 activation after cell contraction or direct force application using magnetic microbeads. [J Cell Biol] Abstract | Press Release

Combined Inhibition of TNFα and IL-17 as Therapeutic Opportunity for Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Development and Characterization of a Novel Bispecific Antibody
Scientists investigated whether combined inhibition of TNFα and IL-17 has additive/synergistic effects in suppression of mesenchymal cell activation in vitro and inflammation and tissue destruction in arthritis in vivo. [Arthritis Rheumatol] Abstract

MicroRNA-Mediated Regulation of Extracellular Matrix Formation Modulates Somatic Cell Reprogramming
Scientists present a systematic and comprehensive study of microRNAs (miRs) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts during the early stage of cell fate decisions and reprogramming to a pluripotent state, in which significant transcriptional and epigenetic changes occur. One miR found to be highly induced during this stage of reprogramming, miR-135b, targeted the expression of extracellular matrix genes including Wisp1 and Igfbp5. [RNA] Abstract | Full Article

Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Promotes Early Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Disruption and Hemorrhage and Impairs Long-Term Neurological Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury
Researchers report that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 plays a critical role in blood-spinal cord barrier disruption after spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. MMP-3 was induced in infiltrated neutrophils and blood vessels after SCI, and NF-κB as a transcription factor was involved in MMP-3 expression. [Am J Pathol]
Abstract | Press Release

An RGD Motif Present in Cadherin 17 Induces Integrin Activation and Tumor Growth
Scientists observed the presence of a tripeptide motif RGD in the domain 6 of the human cadherin 17 (CDH17) sequence and other cadherins such as cadherin 5 and cadherin 6. The use of CDH17 RAD mutants demonstrated a considerable decrease of proliferation and adhesion in RKO and KM12SM colon cancer cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Pro-Metastatic NEDD9 Regulates Individual Cell Migration via Caveolin-1-Dependent Trafficking of Integrins
Researchers found that depletion of pro-metastatic protein, NEDD9, in breast cancer cells results in a significant decrease in individual cell migration due to impaired trafficking of ligand-bound integrins. NEDD9 deficiency does not affect the expression or internalization of integrins but heightens caveolae-dependent trafficking of ligand-bound integrins to early endosomes. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Guidance of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Fibronectin Structured Hydrogel Films
When seeded on fibronectin that was homogeneously immobilized to NCO-sP(EO-stat-PO), which otherwise prevents protein binding and cell adhesion, human mesenchymal stem cells revealed a faster migration, increased spreading and a more rapid organization of different cellular components for cell adhesion on fibronectin than on a glass surface. [PLoS One] Full Article

Effects of Cell-Attachment and Extracellular Matrix on Bone Formation In Vivo in Collagen-Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds
Using transgenic reporter cells as a donor source, two different collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffolds, and a critical-size calvarial defect model, scientists investigated the effect of a cell-attachment period prior to implantation, with or without an extracellular matrix-based seeding suspension, on cell engraftment and osteogenesis. [PLoS One] Full Article

LIM Mineralization Protein-1 Suppresses TNF-α Induced Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Maintaining Nucleus Pulposus Extracellular Matrix Production and Inhibiting Matrix Metalloproteinases Expression
A TNF-α induced cell model was established in vitro. Lentivirus encoding LIM mineralization protein-1 (LMP-1) and short heparin LMP-1 were constructed to overexpress and knockdown LMP-1 expression in nucleus pulposus cells. [J Orthop Res] Abstract

Fibronectin-Tethered Graphene Oxide as an Artificial Matrix for Osteogenesis
Researchers demonstrate enhanced in vitro osteogenic differentiation of preosteoblasts cultured on an artificial matrix (Fn-Tigra) over those cultured on bare titanium, as determined via Alizarin red and von Kossa staining, and the analysis of osteocalcin, type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium contents. [Biomed Mater] Abstract

New Approaches to Selectively Target Cancer-Associated Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity
Heightened matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity has been noted in the context of the tumor microenvironment for many years, and causal roles for MMPs have been defined across the spectrum of cancer progression. This is primarily due to the ability of the MMPs to process extracellular matrix components and to regulate the bioavailability/activity of a large repertoire of cytokines and growth factors. [Cancer Metastasis Rev] Abstract

Vascularisation for Cardiac Tissue Engineering: The Extracellular Matrix
The authors focus on the problem of in vitro vascularization as implantation of cardiac patches consisting of more than three layers of cardiomyocytes already results in necrosis. They explain the need for vascularization and elaborate on the importance to include non-myocytes in order to generate functional vascularized cardiac tissue. [Thromb Haemost] Abstract

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

Halozyme Receives FDA Approval for Additional Manufacturing Facilities for Hylenex^® Recombinant
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved new contract manufacturing facilities used in the production of Hylenex^® recombinant. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

From our sponsor: Free wallchart from Nature Neuroscience – Neural Stem Cells. Request your copy.

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)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Proteases and Extracellular Matrix (GENYO)

Research Associate Position – Skeletal Research Center (Case Western Reserve University)

Postdoctoral Position – Musculoskeletal Genetics (Henry Ford Health System)

Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Biomimetic Tissue Constructs (Johns Hopkins University)

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)

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.)

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.