Interplay between Cadherins and α2β1 Integrin Differentially Regulates Melanoma Cell Invasion Scientists found that α2β1 integrin associates with both E-cadherin and N-cadherin to form two adhesive networks, distinguishable by the interaction—or not—of α2β1 integrin with type I collagen. [Br J Cancer] Abstract Three-Dimensional Bioprinting of Embryonic Stem Cells Directs Highly Uniform Embryoid Body Formation Researchers demonstrated that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were successfully printed with hydrogel into three-dimensional macroporous construct. Upon process optimization, about 90% ESCs remained alive after the process of bioprinting and cell-laden construct formation. [Biofabrication] Full Article | Press Release A Chemomechanical Model of Matrix and Nuclear Rigidity Regulation of Focal Adhesion Size A chemomechanical model describing the growth dynamics of cell-matrix adhesion structures (i.e., focal adhesions (FAs)) was developed. Investigators showed that there are three regimes for FA evolution depending on their size. [Biophys J] Full Article Plasma Membrane Organization of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Resting and Ligand-Bound States Scientists used imaging total internal reflection-fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to investigate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) dynamics on live CHO-K1 plasma membranes in resting and ligand-bound states. They found that overall EGFR organization is sensitive to both cholesterol and the actin cytoskeleton. [Biophys J] Full Article MMP14 as a Novel Downstream Target of VEGFR2 in Migratory Glioma-Tropic Neural Stem Cells The authors investigated the mechanisms of tumor-tropic migration of an FDA-approved neural stem cell (NSC) line by performing a gene expression analysis. They identified vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) and membrane-bound matrix metalloproteinase (MMP14) as molecules whose expression are significantly elevated in migratory NSCs. [Stem Cell Res] Full Article Modifying Alginate with Early Embryonic Extracellular Matrix, Laminin and Hyaluronic Acid for Adipose Tissue Engineering A new material, HA-L-Alg, was synthesized by linking developmentally essential extracellular matrix constituents hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin(L) to alginate (Alg). HA-L-Alg encapsulated 3T3-L1 cells were found to have a higher proliferation rate over those in Alg-only beads. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Development of a Bovine Decellularized Extracellular Matrix-Biomaterial for Nucleus Pulposus Regeneration Scientists aimed to develop a decellularized injectable bovine extracellular matrix material that maintains structural and compositional features of native tissue and promotes nucleus pulposus cell and mesenchymal stem cell adaption. [J Orthop Res] Abstract Jararhagin Disruption of Endothelial Cell Anchorage Is Enhanced in Collagen Enriched Matrices Investigators used two-dimension (2D) or three-dimension (3D) cultures of HUVECs on matrigel and observed the same characteristics as in ex vivo experiments: only the hemorrhagic toxin was able to localize on surfaces or internalize endothelial cells in 2D cultures or in the surface of tubules formed on 3D cultures. The contribution of matrigel, fibronectin and collagen matrices in jararhagin-induced endothelial cell damage was then analyzed. [Toxicon] Abstract |