Extracellular Matrix News Volume 6.04 | Feb 5 2015

Endothelial Destabilization by ​Angiopoietin-2 via ​Integrin β1 Activation
The authors report that ​angiopoietin-2 (​Ang2), but not ​Ang1, activates ​β1-integrin, leading to endothelial destabilization. Autocrine ​Ang2 signaling upon ​Tie2 silencing, or in ​Ang2 transgenic mice, promotes ​β1-integrin-positive elongated matrix adhesions and actin stress fibers, regulating vascular endothelial-cadherin-containing cell-cell junctions. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Regulation of β1 Integrin-Klf2-Mediated Angiogenesis by CCM Proteins
Using cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM)-protein-depleted human umbilical vein endothelial cells, investigators show that the misexpression of KLF2 mRNA requires the extracellular matrix-binding receptor β1 integrin and occurs in the absence of blood flow. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Integrin αvβ3 Acting as Membrane Receptor for Thyroid Hormones Mediates Angiogenesis in Malignant T Cells
Scientists found that thyroid hormones (THs), acting as soluble integrin αvβ3 ligands, activated growth-related signaling pathways in T-cell lymphomas (TCLs). Specifically, TH-activated αvβ3 integrin signaling promoted TCL proliferation and angiogenesis, in part, via the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor. [Blood] Abstract

Automated Analysis of Cell-Matrix Adhesions in 2D and 3D Environments
Researchers developed a platform for the automated analysis, segmentation, and tracking of adhesions (PAASTA) based on an open source MATLAB framework, CellAnimation. PAASTA enables the rapid analysis of adhesion dynamics and many other adhesion characteristics, such as lifetime, size, and location, in three-dimensional (3D) environments and on traditional two-dimensional (2D) substrates. [Sci Rep] Full Article

In PC3 Prostate Cancer Cells Ephrin Receptors Crosstalk to β1-Integrins to Strengthen Adhesion to Collagen Type I
Researchers assayed how ephrin-A1 stimulates PC3 cells to adhere to extracellular matrix proteins using single-cell force spectroscopy. They found that PC3 cells binding to immobilized ephrin-A1 but not to solubilized ephrin-A1 specifically strengthens adhesion to collagen I. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cooperative Effects of Matrix Stiffness and Fluid Shear Stress on Endothelial Cell Behavior
The cooperative effects of fluid shear stress and matrix stiffness on endothelial cells (ECs) remain unknown. To investigate these cooperative effects, scientists cultured bovine aortic ECs on hydrogels matching the elasticity of the intima of compliant, young, or stiff, aging arteries. [Biophys J] Abstract

Myoferlin Depletion Elevates Focal Adhesion Kinase and Paxillin Phosphorylation and Enhances Cell-Matrix Adhesion in Breast Cancer Cells
The authors’ recent work revealed that myoferlin (MYOF) mediates breast tumor cell motility and invasive phenotype. They now demonstrate that non-invasive breast cancer cell lines exhibit increased cell-substrate adhesion and that silencing of MYOF using RNAi in the highly invasive human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, also enhanced cell-substrate adhesion. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Abstract

Engineering Bio-Adhesive Functions in an Antimicrobial Polymer Multilayer
The role of two typical adhesive ligands on the bioadhesion functions of a model antimicrobial film was elucidated. An adhesive ligand including an RGD peptide or collagen (CL) was chemically coupled to an antimicrobial polymeric multilayer composed of dextran sulfate and chitosan. The effect of immobilized RGD or CL on both bacterial and fibroblast adhesion was investigated. [Biomed Mater]
Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

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Cynata Partners with UWA Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine
Cynata Therapeutics Ltd. announced that it has commenced a study to test the potential therapeutic efficacy of its Cymerus™ mesenchymal stem cells in an animal model of lung fibrosis. [Cynata Therapeutics Ltd.] Press Release

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NEW Senior Process Development Engineer (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

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

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

PhD Studentship – Experimental Biophysics (ibidi GmbH)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Bioengineering (University of Pittsburgh)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Bioengineering and Cancer Biology (University of Minnesota)

PhD Studentship – Cell and Matrix Biology (Cardiff University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Wnt Signaling in Development and Disease (Van Andel Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Extracellular Matrix Proteomics (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Extracellular Matrix and Cell/Tissue Stiffness (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Integrin Mediated Tumor Invasion and Metastasis (Stony Brook University)

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