Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.09 | Mar 09 2017

TOP STORY

Elastin-Like Protein-Hyaluronic Acid (ELP-HA) Hydrogels with Decoupled Mechanical and Biochemical Cues for Cartilage Regeneration

Investigators report an adaptable ELP-HA hydrogel platform using dynamic covalent chemistry, which allows variation of HA concentration without affecting matrix stiffness. ELP-HA hydrogels were created through dynamic hydrazone bonds via the reaction between hydrazine-modified ELP and aldehyde-modified HA. [Biomaterials] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Agrin as a Mechanotransduction Signal Regulating YAP through the Hippo Pathway

The authors uncovered a functional link between the extracellular matrix proteoglycan Agrin and the transcriptional co-activator YAP. Agrin transduced matrix and cellular rigidity signals that enhanced stability and mechanoactivity of YAP through the integrin-focal adhesion- and Lrp4/MuSK receptor-mediated signaling pathways [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Engineering a Vascularized 3D In Vitro Model of Cancer Progression

Scientists engineered compartmentalized biomimetic colorectal tumoroids with stromal surrounds that comprised a range of extracellular matrix (ECM) densities, composition and stromal cell populations. Recapitulating tissue ECM composition and stromal cell composition enhanced cancer cell invasion. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Treatment of Rabbit Growth Plate Injuries with Oriented ECM Scaffold and Autologous BMSCs

Researchers aimed to fabricate oriented extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds to imitate the material and structure of a natural growth plate and to investigate whether bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a scaffold could prevent the formation of bone bridges in an injured growth plate. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Biofabrication of a Co-Culture System in an Osteoid-Like Hydrogel Matrix

Osteoid-like, non-mineralized matrix was used for the 3D cultivation of osteoblast and osteoclast progenitor cells to evaluate interactions in an early stage of bone formation. The additive manufacturing technology bioplotting was used to tailor a 3D environment with defined properties. [Biofabrication] Abstract

Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 Mediates Collagen-Induced Activation of Membrane-Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase in Human Fibroblasts

The authors identified discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) as a crucial receptor that mediates this process in human fibroblasts. Knocking down DDR2, but not β1 integrin subunit, a common subunit for all collagen-binding integrins, inhibited collagen-induced activation of pro matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and upregulation of membrane-type 1-MMP at the gene and protein level. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Heparin/Collagen Encapsulating Nerve Growth Factor Multilayers Coated Aligned PLLA Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Nerve Tissue Engineering

Heparin/collagen encapsulating nerve growth factor multilayers were coated onto the aligned poly-L-lactide (PLLA) nanofibrous scaffolds via a layer-by-layer self-assembly technique to combine biomolecular signals and physical guidance cues for peripheral nerve regeneration. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Smad3-Dependent CCN2 Mediates Fibronectin Expression in Human Skin Dermal Fibroblasts

Scientists report that connective tissue growth factor (CCN2) is absolutely necessary for fibronectin (FN) expression in primary human skin dermal fibroblasts, the major cells responsible for extracellular matrix production in skin. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches demonstrated that CCN2 is an essential component of FN expression in both basal and stimulation by TGF-β signaling, the major regulator of FN expression. [PLoS One] Full Article

Toll-Like Receptor 2 Activation and Serum Amyloid A Regulate Smooth Muscle Cell Extracellular Matrix

Researchers address the role of serum amyloid A (SAA) and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 activation on smooth muscle cell matrix gene expression and insoluble elastin accumulation. Cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells were treated with SAA or TLR2 agonists and the effect on expression of matrix metallopeptidase 9 and tropoelastin was studied. [PLoS One] Full Article

The Host Response to Naturally-Derived Extracellular Matrix Biomaterials

Biomaterials based on natural materials including decellularized tissues and tissue-derived hydrogels are becoming more widely used for clinical applications. Because of their native composition and structure, these biomaterials induce a distinct form of the foreign body response that differs from that of non-native biomaterials. Differences include direct interactions with cells via preserved moieties as well as the ability to undergo remodeling. [Semin Immunol] Abstract

Role and Impact of the Extracellular Matrix on Integrin-Mediated Pancreatic β-Cell Functions

The authors present an update on the major components of the pancreatic extracellular matrix, their role during integrin-mediated cell-matrix adhesions and how they are affected during diabetes. [Biol Cell] Abstract

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

U-M Leads Major New Regenerative Medicine Center Funded by NIH

A new interdisciplinary health sciences resource center at the University of Michigan has received an $11.7 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance regenerative medicine. Scientists will investigate new ways to restore dental, oral and craniofacial tissues lost to disease, injury or congenital disorders. [University of Michigan] Press Release

UCSF to Lead Resource Team for Craniofacial, Oral and Dental Tissue Regeneration

University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is the lead institution on a California-based, six-university consortium that was awarded $12 million by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to develop strategies for treating craniofacial and dental defects, which affect millions of Americans. [University of California San Francisco] Press Release

Izun Pharmaceuticals Announces Approval of Curasite^™ Hydrogel Wound Care Product by FDA

Izun Pharmaceuticals Corporation that the FDA has approved the company’s 510(k) application for Curasite Wound Care Hydrogel. Curasite is a proprietary topical combination of three botanical extracts: Centella asiatica, Echinacea purpurea and Sambucus nigra in a hydrogel base. [Izun Pharmaceuticals Corporation] Press Release

Patchy Progress on Fixing Global Gender Disparities in Science

Although women are publishing more studies, being cited more often, and securing more coveted first-author positions than they were in the mid-1990s, overall progress towards gender parity in science varies widely by country and field. This is according to a massive report released on 8^th March that is the first to examine such a broad swath of disciplines and regions of the world over time. [Nature News] Editorial

Open-Data Contest Unearths Scientific Gems — and Controversy

When a prestigious medical journal challenged scientists to analyze data from a pivotal blood-pressure study in search of new findings, hundreds of researchers around the world rushed to sign up. The contest, sponsored by the New England Journal of Medicine, offered scientists a rare opportunity to access detailed trial data that otherwise might have remained proprietary for another year — if not indefinitely. But the competition, whose winners were announced on 7^th March, also illustrates the tension between speeding access to data and protecting the interests of those who labored to collect them. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Advances in Sarcomas: From Basic Science to Clinical Translation
May 16-19, 2017
Philadelphia, United States

NEW Molecular and Cell Biology of Membranes
May 21-23, 2017
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Stromal Tissue Imprinting of Immune Cell Function (AstraZeneca)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Decorin and Perlecan and Their Effects on Tumor Angiogenesis, Autophagy, and Mitophagy (Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cellular Mechanobiology (University of Buffalo)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Role of Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis (University of California, San Francisco)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Various Projects (University of Missouri Biomedical Sciences)

PhD Position – Molecular Studies of Bacterial Amyloid Secretion (VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Scientist – Cell-Extracellular Matrix Interactions (University of Michigan)

Professor – Molecular Biochemistry (University of Oulu)

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

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)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Extracellular Matrix News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.