Extracellular Matrix News 7.42 October 27, 2016 | |
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TOP STORYMatrix Mechanics Controls FHL2 Movement to the Nucleus to Activate p21 Expression Substrate rigidity affects many physiological processes through mechanochemical signals from focal adhesion (FA) complexes that subsequently modulate gene expression. The authors find that shuttling of the LIM domain (domain discovered in the proteins, Lin11, Isl-1, and Mec-3) protein four-and-a-half LIM domains 2 (FHL2) between FAs and the nucleus depends on matrix mechanics. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)An injectable hydrogel comprising poly(L-glutamic acid)-graft-tyramine with tunable microenvironment was developed via enzyme-catalyzed crosslinking, and used as artificial extracellular matrix to explore the behaviors of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells during three dimensional (3D) culture. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract Researchers demonstrated that lentiviral BAG3 silencing significantly enhances AT-101-induced cell death and reactivates effector caspase-mediated apoptosis in U251 glioma cells with high BAG3 expression, while these sensitizing effects were less pronounced in U343 cells. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract Scientists analyzed the three-dimensional structure, geometrical measurements and anisotropy of the extracellular matrix isolated from (i) human bladder mucosa (basal lamina and lamina propria) and muscularis propria; and, (ii) bladder carcinoma. [Sci Rep] Full Article 3D Texture Analysis for Classification of Second Harmonic Generation Images of Human Ovarian Cancer Remodeling of the collagen architecture in the extracellular matrix has been implicated in ovarian cancer. To quantify these alterations researchers implemented a form of 3D texture analysis to delineate the fibrillar morphology observed in 3D Second Harmonic Generation microscopy image data of normal and high risk ovarian stroma, benign ovarian tumors, low grade and high grade serous tumors, and endometrioid tumors. [Sci Rep] Full Article Lysyl Oxidase Like-2 Crosslinks Collagen IV of Glomerular Basement Membrane The authors aimed to identify the enzyme(s) that crosslinks the 7S dodecamer and characterize its expression in the kidney glomerulus. Pharmacological inhibition of candidate ECM enzymes revealed that lysyl oxidase activity is required for crosslinking of 7S polypeptides. Among all lysyl oxidase family members, LOXL2 was identified as the isoform crosslinking collagen IV in mouse embryonal PFHR-9 cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article In this work, collagen and collagen-chondroitin sulfate scaffolds were fabricated via unidirectional freezing and lyophilization to induce the formation of aligned pores. Scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and a chondroitin sulfate quantification assay. [Biotechnol Bioeng] Abstract Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease associated with autoantibodies to type XVII collagen (COL17), which is a component of hemidesmosome. When keratinocytes are treated with BP-IgG, COL17 internalizes into cells by way of the macropinocytosis. The authors investigated the mechanism of COL17 macropinocytosis using DJM-1 cells, a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line. [Lab Invest] Abstract Researchers identified that the non-fibrillar type XII collagen, which serves as a matrix-bridging component, is expressed in the epicardium of the zebrafish heart, and is boosted after cryoinjury-induced ventricular damage. During heart regeneration, an intense deposition of collagen XII covers the outer epicardial cap and the interstitial reparative tissue. [PLoS One] Full Article The authors observed that human trabecular meshwork explants treated with dexamethasone released exosomes with significantly reduced amounts of fibronectin bound per exosome. Further, they found that exosome-fibronectin binding is heparan sulfate-dependent, consistent with their observation that trabecular meshwork exosomes are enriched in the heparin/heparan sulfate binding annexins A2 and A6. [PLoS One] Full Article Scientists developed in vitro and computational models to measure mass transport from a perfusion system into a 3D extracellular matrix (ECM). A perfusion-flow bioreactor system was used to control and quantify the mass transport of a macromolecule within an ECM hydrogel with embedded through-channels. [Ann Biomed Eng] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSThe authors discuss biochemical (secretome) and biomechanical (structure and architecture) changes of tumor microenvironment, giving suggestions on how these changes can affect cancer cell behavior. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract Biomaterial Strategies for Delivering Stem Cells as a Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury The authors review the literature discussing different types of instructive biomaterial scaffolds developed for transplanting stem cells into the injured spinal cord. They have chosen to focus specifically on biomaterial scaffolds that direct the differentiation of neural stem cells and pluripotent stem cells since they offer the most promise for producing the cell phenotypes that could restore function after spinal cord injury. [Cells Tissues Organs] Abstract The review highlights recent advances in the design of smart materials capable of responding to the physiological environment, to biomarkers and to biological particulates. Key design principles, challenges and future directions, including clinical translation, of bioresponsive materials are also discussed. [Nature Reviews Materials] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the extracellular matrix research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSOrthocell Receives Approval for Human Nerve Regeneration Study Using CelGro® Orthocell has been granted ethics approval for a human study examining the effectiveness of its CelGro® collagen medical device, to guide and promote nerve regeneration in severed peripheral nerves of the hand and upper limb. [Orthocell (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release FDA Approves Lilly’s LARTRUVO™ (Olaratumab) in Combination with Doxorubicin for Soft Tissue Sarcoma Eli Lilly and Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval of LARTRUVO™, in combination with doxorubicin, for the treatment of adults with soft tissue sarcoma with a histologic subtype for which an anthracycline-containing regimen is appropriate and which is not amenable to curative treatment with radiotherapy or surgery. [Eli Lilly and Company] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSScientific Challenges Loom for Canada’s Popular Prime Minister Many in Canada’s science community say they are reserving judgement, waiting to see whether Trudeau can sustain his string of victories as he tackles some of country’s thorniest science-policy issues. [Nature News] Editorial Review Finds Misconduct in Events Surrounding WHO Fetal Growth Study For the first time in its 68-year history, the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that researchers are guilty of research misconduct. An independent review commissioned by WHO has found that “research ethics misconduct occurred” in a multimillion-dollar global study on fetal growth led by researchers at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Two Major California Research Institutes Will Merge One of the biggest nonprofit biomedical research outfits in the world is getting a new translational medicine research arm, aimed at speeding the conversion of basic research insights into novel medicines. Officials at the Scripps Research Institute announced that it will merge with the California Institute for Biomedical Research, which was launched in 2012 as a nonprofit version of a drug development company. [ScienceInsider] Editorial To Save Money, NSF Requires University Cost-Sharing for Rotators The National Science Foundation (NSF) has decided that universities should pay 10% of the salaries of faculty members working temporarily at the agency. NSF hopes the new policy will demonstrate its commitment to saving taxpayer dollars without alienating the academic community that it relies upon to stay on the cutting edge of basic science. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW British Society for Matrix Biology (BSMB) Spring Meeting Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (Luxembourg Institute of Health) Postdoctoral Fellow – Scaffold Design & Drug/Gene Delivery (Nanyang Technological University) Postdoctoral Associate – Molecular Functions of Planar Cell Polarity (Stony Brook University) Postdoctoral Positions – Cellular Information Processing (University of Chicago) Postdoc Position – Molecular Basis of Protein Trafficking (Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry) Chair in Medical Biology – Head of the Department of Biology (Masaryk University) PhD Position – Tumor Microenvironment in Leukemia (Georg-Speyer-Haus) Postdoctoral Fellow/Scientist – Osteoblast Biology (Michigan State University) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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Home Extracellular Matrix News Volume 7.42 | Oct 27 2016