Maspin Expression in Prostate Tumor Cells Averts Stemness and Stratifies Drug Sensitivity To test the hypothesis that the tumor suppressor maspin may reduce microenvironment-dependent prostate tumor cell plasticity and thereby modulate drug sensitivity, scientists established a new schematic combination of 2D, 3D and suspension cultures to enrich prostate cancer cell subpopulations with distinct differentiation potentials. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article Rapidly Light-Activated Surgical Protein Glue Inspired by Mussel Adhesion and Insect Structural Crosslinking The authors report a new light-activated, mussel protein-based bioadhesive (LAMBA) inspired by mussel adhesion and insect dityrosine crosslinking chemistry. LAMBA exhibited substantially stronger bulk wet tissue adhesion than commercially available fibrin glue and good biocompatibility in both in vitro and in vivo studies. [Biomaterials] Abstract | Press Release Regulation of Sarcoma Cell Migration, Invasion and Invadopodia Formation by AFAP1L1 through a Phosphotyrosine-Dependent Pathway The authors identified a novel pathway that directs Lyn/Src family tyrosine kinase signals to the invadopodia to regulate sarcoma cell invasion via the molecule AFAP-1-like-1 (AFAP1L1), a new member of the AFAP (actin filament-associated protein) family. They showed that AFAP1L1 can transform cells, promote migration and co-expression with active Lyn profoundly influences cell morphology and movement. [Oncogene] Abstract Small Molecule and RNAi Induced Phenotype Transition of Expanded and Primary Colonic Epithelial Cells Investigators report primary and prolonged culture of normal porcine epithelial cells from colon for cell line development. In addition, a novel primary three-dimensional intestinal culture system is presented, which generated organoids composed of a highly polarized epithelial layer lining a core of subepithelial tissue. [Sci Rep] Full Article Transplantation of Neurons Derived from Human iPS Cells Cultured on Collagen Matrix into Guinea-Pig Cochleae Neural stem cells were differentiated into neurons on a three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix, using the same protocol of culture on Matrigel-coated plates; neuron subtypes in differentiated cells on a 3D collagen matrix were examined. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract αvβ3 Integrins Mediate Flow-Induced NF-κB Activation, Proinflammatory Gene Expression, and Early Atherogenic Inflammation The authors sought to elucidate which integrin heterodimers mediate shear stress-induced endothelial cell activation and early atherogenesis. They showed that inhibiting αvβ3 integrins, but not α5β1 or αvβ5, blunted shear stress-induced proinflammatory signaling and gene expression. [Am J Pathol] Abstract Matrix-Stiffness-Regulated Inverse Expression of Krüppel-Like Factor 5 and Krüppel-Like Factor 4 in the Pathogenesis of Renal Fibrosis The proliferation of mouse proximal tubular epithelial cells in ex vivo culture depends on matrix stiffness. Combined analysis of the microarray and experimental data revealed that Krüppel-like factor (Klf)5 was the most up-regulated transcription factor accompanied by the down-regulation of Klf4 when cells were on stiff matrix. [Am J Pathol] Abstract Targeted Type 2 Alveolar Cell Depletion Provides a Dynamic Functional Model for Lung Injury Repair Researchers demonstrated that specific levels of type 2 alveolar epithelial cell (AEC2) depletion cause altered expression patterns of apoptosis and repair proteins in surviving AEC2 as well as distinct changes in distal lung morphology, pulmonary function, collagen deposition and expression of remodeling proteins in whole lung that persist for up to 60 days. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract | Press Release Deficiency of NOX1 or NOX4 Prevents Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mice through Inhibition of Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation Scientists aimed to determine the role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX)1 and NOX4 in liver fibrosis, and investigated whether NOX1 and NOX4 signaling mediates liver fibrosis by regulating hepatic stellate cells activation. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release Impaired Extracellular Matrix Structure Resulting from Malnutrition in Ovariectomized Mature Rats Biophysical, histological and molecular techniques were implemented to examine the underlying cellular and extracellular matrix changes and to assess the mechanisms contributing to bone loss in the context of aging and the widely used osteoporotic models in rats. [Histochem Cell Biol] Abstract |