Extracellular Matrix News Volume 6.13 | Apr 9 2015

Cardiomyoblast (H9c2) Differentiation on Tunable Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Microenvironment
The authors investigated cardiomyogenic potential of fibroblast-derived matrix as a novel ECM platform over gelatin or fibronectin, in generating cardiac cell lineages derived from H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Retention of the Stemness of Mouse Adipose Derived Stem Cells by Their Expansion on Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Derived Extracellular Matrix
Previously, coating with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived extracellular matrix (ECM) was found able to maintain the differentiation potential of in vitro cultured MSCs. Researchers determined if this ECM coating could also maintain the stemness of cultured murine adipose derived stem cells using regular culture flask as a control. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

The Effect of Substrate Stiffness, Thickness, and Cross-Linking Density on Osteogenic Cell Behavior
Scientists characterized the local stiffness at the cellular level for MC3T3-E1 cells plated on biomaterial substrates of varying modulus, thickness, and cross-linking concentration. MC3T3 cells cultured on a soft fibrous substrate attained the same spread cell area as those cultured on a much higher modulus, but nonfibrous substrate. [Biophys J] Abstract

Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression Is Enhanced in Renal Parietal Epithelial Cells of Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats and Is Induced by Albumin in In Vitro Primary Parietal Cell Culture
Researchers investigated whether and how matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and activity were changed in glomerular epithelial cells upon albumin overload. [PLoS One] Full Article

Interaction between Fibronectin and β1 Integrin Is Essential for Tooth Development
To determine the role of fibronectin in differentiation of the dental epithelium and tooth formation, scientists analyzed its expression in developing incisors. [PLoS One] Full Article

Anisotropic Silk Biomaterials Containing Cardiac Extracellular Matrix for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
Investigators developed a silk-based scaffold platform containing cardiac tissue-derived extracellular matrix (cECM). These silk-cECM composite scaffolds had tunable architectures, degradation rates, and mechanical properties. [Biomed Mater] Abstract

Self-Synthesized Extracellular Matrix Contributes to Mature Adipose Tissue Regeneration in a Tissue Engineering Chamber
The authors describe a chamber-based system for improving the yield of mature adipose tissue and discuss the potential mechanism of adipogenesis in tissue-chamber models. [Wound Repair Regen] Abstract

Design of an Osteoinductive Extracellular Fibronectin Matrix Protein for Bone Tissue Engineering
Investigators constructed a novel osteoinductive fibronectin matrix protein for bone tissue engineering, designed to combine the integrin-binding modules from fibronectin and a strong osteoinductive growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein-2. [Int J Mol Sci] Abstract | Download Full Article

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$10 Million Gift Establishes Center to Develop Personalized Medicine to Fight Cancer
A $10 million gift from entrepreneurs Emmet and Toni Stephenson and their daughter Tessa Stephenson Brand will further the pioneering efforts of Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) Professor David B. Agus, MD, to change the way cancer is viewed and treated and forge a path to personalized medicine. [Keck Medicine of USC] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Imaging (King’s College London)

Cell Biologist – Neurodegeneration (MedImmune LLC)

Postdoctoral Position – ECM Integrin Signaling (Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School)

Research Associate – Triple Negative Breast Cancer (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell Signaling (Columbia University Medical Center)

PhD Position – Early Human Brain Development Modeling with hiPSCs (University of Bonn)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Role of ECM Proteolysis in Normal and Pathological Corneal Repair (UCSF)

Associate Director – Cell Therapy (Stelfox)

PhD Studentship – Cell Migration (MOCA Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy)

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