Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.02 | Jan 19 2017

TOP STORY

Fluid Shear Stress Activates YAP1 to Promote Cancer Cell Motility

Researchers demonstrated that frictional force characteristic of flow in the lymphatics stimulates YAP1 to drive cancer cell migration; whereas intensities of fluid wall shear stress (WSS) typical of venous or arterial flow inhibit taxis. YAP1, but not TAZ, is strictly required for WSS-enhanced cell movement, as blockade of YAP1, TEAD1-4 or the YAP1–TEAD interaction reduces cellular velocity to levels observed without flow. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Fibronectin-Guided Migration of Carcinoma Collectives

The authors provide a comprehensive data set of the human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC)-associated fibroblast matrisome. Although much attention has been paid to the deposit of collagen, they identified oncofetal fibronectin as a major and obligate component of the matrix assembled by stromal fibroblasts from HNSCC. [Nat Commun] Full Article

The Fibronectin Synergy Site Re-Enforces Cell Adhesion and Mediates a Crosstalk between Integrin Classes

Investigators report that mice with a dysfunctional fibronectin-synergy motif suffer from surprisingly mild platelet adhesion and bleeding defects due to delayed thrombus formation after vessel injury. Additional loss of β3 integrins dramatically aggravates the bleedings and severely compromises smooth muscle cell coverage of the vasculature leading to embryonic lethality. [Elife] Full Article

Plant Toxin β-ODAP Activates Integrin β1 and Focal Adhesion: A Critical Pathway to Cause Neurolathyrism

Scientists found that, in a human glioma cell line, β-N-oxalyl-L-α, β- diaminopropionic (β-ODAP) treatment decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to outside release and overfall of Ca²⁺ from mitochondria to cellular matrix. Increased Ca²⁺ in cellular matrix activated the pathway of extracellular matrix, and brought about the overexpression of β1 integrin on cytomembrane surface and the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. [Sci Rep] Full Article

High-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronic Acid Attenuated Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and -3 Expression via CD44 in Tendinopathy

The authors investigated the effects of different concentrations and different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid (HA) on matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3 expression in IL-1β-stimulated rat tenocytes, and on their dynamic expression in peritendinous effusion from patients with long head of biceps tendinopathy after high-molecular-weight-HA treatments. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Peptide-Functionalized StarPEG/Heparin Hydrogels Direct Mitogenicity, Cell Morphology and Cartilage Matrix Distribution In Vitro and In Vivo

Investigators aimed at exploring the impact of cell instructive, adhesion and collagen-binding peptides, incorporated in a tunable, matrixmetalloprotease-responsive multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol)/heparin hydrogel on cartilage regeneration parameters in vitro and in vivo. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

M2-Like Macrophages Induce Colon Cancer Cell Invasion via Matrix Metalloproteinases

The authors found that matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), which degrades extracellular matrix proteins, was increased in biopsies from colon cancer patients and in mouse xenografts with SW480 cell-derived tumors. SW480 colon cancer cells exposed to M2-like macrophage conditioned medium exhibited increased MMP-9 mRNA, protein expression and gelatinase activity. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

3D Co-Culture of Meniscal Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Collagen Type I Hydrogel on a Small Intestinal Matrix – A Pilot Study towards Equine Meniscus Tissue Engineering

The study compares 3D co-culture constructs of primary equine mesenchymal stem cells and meniscus cells seeded on three different scaffolds – a cell-laden collagen type I hydrogel, a tissue-derived small intestinal matrix scaffold and a combination thereof – for their qualification to be applied for meniscus tissue engineering. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Interactions of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiovascular Progenitor Cells with Immobilized Extracellular Matrix Proteins

Scientists screened combinations of surface-immobilized extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to identify substrates that support the attachment and survival of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiovascular progenitor cells. Covalent immobilization of ECM proteins laminin, fibronectin, collagen I, collagen III, and collagen IV in multiple combinations and concentrations was achieved by reductive amination on transparent acetaldehyde plasma polymer interlayer coatings. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Collagen Hydrogel Scaffold Promotes Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Endothelial Cell Coculture for Bone Tissue Engineering

Researchers devised a strategy to address the need for a functional microvasculature by designing an in vitro coculture system that simultaneously cultures osteogenic differentiating human mesenchymal stem cells with endothelial cells. They utilized the tubular perfusion system bioreactor as a dynamic coculture environment, which they hypothesize will encourage prevascularization of endothelial cells and early formation of bone tissue and could aid in anastomosis of the graft with the host vasculature after patient implantation. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Tuning Collective Cell Migration by Cell-Cell Junction Regulation

Plasticity of cell-cell junction composition and turnover defines the type of collective movements in epithelial, mesenchymal, neuronal, and immune cells, and defines migration coordination, anchorage, and cell dissociation. The authors review cell-cell adhesion systems and their functions in different types of collective cell migration as key regulators of collective plasticity. [Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the extracellular matrix research field.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Awards NJIT and Talem Technologies a $600,000 Grant to Continue Exploration of an Upper Extremity Exoskeleton in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

PPMD announced a $600,000 grant to be awarded to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Talem Technologies as part of the organization’s ongoing exploration of robotic technology to assist people living with Duchenne. [Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

£1.5 Million Trial for Brittle Bone Therapy

Researchers have received £1.5 million to conduct a study, which will involve 390 people with a condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). The six-year trial will test whether the combination of two therapies that are already used to treat a different bone condition can also help to reduce the risk of fractures in people with OI. [University of Edinburgh] Press Release

Mystery as Controversial List of Predatory Publishers Disappears

A popular blog that lists “potential, possible, or probable predatory” publishers and journals has disappeared, but it is not clear why. A University of Colorado in Denver spokesperson told ScienceInsider that Beall made a “personal decision” to take down his list of low-quality journals that charge authors a fee to publish, often with little or no review or editing. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Gene-Edited Animals Face US Regulatory Crackdown

Researchers transforming animals with the latest genome-engineering tools may be disappointed by draft rules released by the US Food and Drug Administration. The most controversial of three proposed regulations declares that all animals whose genomes have been intentionally altered will be examined for safety and efficacy in a process similar to that for new drugs. [Nature News] Editorial

Billion-Dollar Project Aims to Prep Vaccines before Epidemics Hit

SARS, Zika, Ebola – when some of the world’s most terrifying disease outbreaks occur, health workers often find themselves powerless. A billion-dollar initiative aims to change that situation by pre-emptively developing and stockpiling vaccines to combat potential epidemic threats. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Cilia, Mucus & Mucociliary Interactions
February 12-17, 2017
Galveston, United States

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Professor – Molecular Biochemistry (University of Oulu)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Decorin and Perlecan and Their Consequent Effects on Tumor Angiogenesis (Thomas Jefferson University)

NEW Faculty Positions – Medical Research (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)

NEW PhD Studentship/Postdoctoral Fellow – Design and Fabrication of Clinically Relevant Polymer-Based Stents for Chronic Rhinosinusitis (University of Gent and Free University Brussels)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Studying the Forms and Activity of Extracellular Tau (Brigham & Women’s Hospital)

PhD Studentship – Light-Addressable Neuroactive Matrices (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Various Projects (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Nanocellulose Fibril Characterization for New Materials (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Tenure Track Faculty Position – Kidney Bench Research (University of Pennsylvania)

Faculty Positions – Department of Biomedical Engineering (Southern University of Science and Technology)

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