CXCR4 and a Cell-Extrinsic Mechanism Control Immature B Lymphocyte Egress from Bone Marrow Investigators used two-photon intravital microscopy to show that immature B cell retention within bone marrow was strictly dependent on amoeboid motility mediated by CXCR4 and CXCL12 and by α4β1 integrin-mediated adhesion to VCAM-1. [J Exp Med] Abstract | Editorial Epithelial β1 Integrin Is Required for Lung Branching Morphogenesis and Alveolarization Using an inducible system to delete β1 integrin after completion of airway branching, researchers show that alveolarization defects, characterized by disrupted secondary septation, abnormal alveolar epithelial cell differentiation, excessive collagen I and elastin deposition, and hypercellularity of the mesenchyme occurred independently of airway branching defects. [Development] Abstract Optimization and Critical Evaluation of Decellularization Strategies to Develop Renal Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds as Biological Templates for Organ Engineering and Transplantation Scientists developed histologic scoring systems to quantify fundamental characteristics of decellularized rodent kidneys: extracellular matrix structure (tubules, vessels, glomeruli) and cell removal. They also assessed growth factor retention, indicating matrix biofunctionality. [Am J Transplant] Abstract | Press Release E-Spun Composite Fibers of Collagen and Dragline Silk Protein – Fiber Mechanics, Biocompatibility and Application in Stem Cell Differentiation Investigators used the electrospinning technique to fabricate well-aligned composite fibers from collagen and spider dragline silk protein, obtained from the milk of transgenic goats, mimicking the native extracellular matrix on a similar scale. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract Evaluation of Motor Neuron-Like Cell Differentiation of hEnSCs on Biodegradable PLGA Nanofiber Scaffolds Human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) were cultured on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold and tissue culture polystyrene, then differentiation of hEnSCs into motor neuron-like cells under induction media including retinoic acid and sonic hedgehog were evaluated for 15 days. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract Differential Effects of Tissue Culture Coating Substrates on Prostate Cancer Cell Adherence, Morphology and Behavior To improve the adherence of LNCaP cells to the culture surface, scientists compared different coating reagents (poly-L-lysine, poly-L-ornithine, collagen type IV, fibronectin, and laminin) and culturing conditions and analyzed their impact on cell proliferation, adhesion, morphology, mobility and gene expression using real-time technologies. [PLoS One] Full Article Differential Sensitivity of Epithelial Cells to Extracellular Matrix in Polarity Establishment To elucidate the common features and differences in polarity establishment among various epithelial cells, scientists analyzed the formation of epithelial apical-basal polarity using three cell lines of different origin. These cells showed clear apical-basal polarity in two-dimensional cultures. In three-dimensional cultures, however, each cell line displayed different responses to the same extracellular matrix. [PLoS One] Full Article ATP Promotes Extracellular Matrix Biosynthesis of Intervertebral Disc Cells The authors investigated the effects of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the extracellular matrix biosynthesis of porcine intervertebral discs cells isolated from two distinct anatomical regions: the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract An Expandable, Inducible Hemangioblast State Regulated by Fibroblast Growth Factor Scientists identified six transcription factors, Gata2, Lmo2, Mycn, Pitx2, Sox17, and Tal1, that “trap” murine cells in a proliferative state and endow them with a hemangioblast potential. The “expandable” hemangioblasts reveal a central role for fibroblast growth factor, which not only promotes their expansion, but also facilitates their ability to give rise to endothelial cells and leukocytes, but not erythrocytes. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release |