Extracellular Matrix News Volume 7.07 | Feb 25 2016

Human Vascular Microphysiological System for In Vitro Drug Screening
In vitro human tissue engineered human blood vessels (TEBV) that exhibit vasoactivity can be used to test human toxicity of pharmaceutical drug candidates prior to pre-clinical animal studies. TEBVs were made by embedding human neonatal dermal fibroblasts or human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in dense collagen gel. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

Anti-Microbial Dendrimers against Multidrug-Resistant P. aeruginosa Enhance the Angiogenic Effect of Biological Burn-Wound Bandages
Anti-microbial polycationic dendrimers G3KL and G3RL, able to kill multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been previously developed. The combination of these dendrimers with a class of biological bandages made of progenitor skin cells, which secrete growth factors, could positively impact wound-healing processes. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

The Ameloblastin Extracellular Matrix Molecule Enhances Bone Fracture Resistance and Promotes Rapid Bone Fracture Healing
The authors defined the role of the extracellular matrix protein ameloblastin (AMBN) in fracture resistance and fracture healing of mouse long bones. To this end, long bones from WT and AMBN^Δ5-6 truncation model mice were subjected to biomechanical analysis, fracture healing assays, and stem cell colony formation comparisons. [Matrix Biol] Abstract

An Endochondral Ossification-Based Approach to Bone Repair: Chondrogenically-Primed MSC-Laden Scaffolds Support Greater Repair of Critical-Sized Cranial Defects than Osteogenically Stimulated Constructs In Vivo
Scientists hypothesized that stimulation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis and subsequent hypertrophy within collagen-based scaffolds would lead to improved vascularization and bone formation when implanted within a critical-sized bone defect in vivo. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

GIV/Girdin Creates a Positive Feedback Loop that Potentiates Outside-In Integrin Signaling in Cancer Cells
Investigators recently described that GIV, a protein upregulated in metastatic cancers, is also required for outside-in integrin signaling. Here they showed that phosphorylation of GIV at Tyr-1764/Tyr-1798 is also required to enhance PI3K-Akt signaling and tumor cell migration in response to integrin stimulation, indicating that GIV functions in phosphotyrosine-dependent integrin signaling. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Effect of Alpha 2,6 Sialylation on Integrin-Mediated Adhesion of Breast Cancer Cells to Fibronectin and Collagen IV
Scientists determined the role of sialylation on α5β1 and α2β1 integrins in the regulation of adhesion between breast cancer cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). Cleavage of α2,6 sialylation increased adhesion of MDA-MB-231 cells to ECM, while adhesion of MCF-7 cells was unaffected, consistent with the latter’s lack of endogenous α2,6 sialylated surface integrins. [Life Sci] Abstract

Recombinant Mussel Proximal Thread Matrix Protein Promotes Osteoblast Cell Adhesion and Proliferation
Researchers cloned and mass produced a recombinant proximal thread matrix protein 1 (PTMP1) from E. coli after switching all the minor codons to the major codons of E. coli. Recombinant PTMP1 has an ability to enhance mouse osteoblast cell adhesion, spreading, and cell proliferation. [BMC Biotechnol] Full Article

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Elsevier Announces the Launch of a New Journal: Bioprinting
Elsevier announced the launch of a new journal, Bioprinting. This broad-spectrum, multidisciplinary journal is geared towards all aspects of 3D fabrication technology of biological tissues, organs and cells for medical and biotechnology applications. [Elsevier B.V.] Press Release

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PhD Positions – Cancer, Microbiology and Stem Cell Engineering (Virginia Commonwealth University)

PhD Positions – Tendon Repair and Regeneration (NUI Galway)

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