Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.11 | Mar 23 2017

TOP STORY

The Soft Mechanical Signature of Glial Scars in the Central Nervous System

The authors characterized spatiotemporal changes of the elastic stiffness of the injured rat neocortex and spinal cord at 1.5 and three weeks post-injury using atomic force microscopy. In contrast to scars in other mammalian tissues, central nervous system tissue significantly softens after injury. Expression levels of glial intermediate filaments and extracellular matrix components correlated with tissue softening. [Nat Commun] Full Article

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A Novel Biodegradable Self-Healing Hydrogel to Induce Blood Capillary Formation

A novel chitosan–fibrin (CF)-based self-healing hydrogel with a modulus of ~1.2 kPa was developed. Vascular endothelial cells seeded in the CF hydrogel were able to form capillary-like structures. Moreover, the injection of the CF hydrogel alone promoted angiogenesis in the perivitelline space of zebrafish and rescued the blood circulation in ischemic hindlimbs of mice. [NPG Asia Mater] Full Article

SU9516 Increases α7β1 Integrin and Ameliorates Disease Progression in the mdx Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Scientists showed that SU9516 leads to increased α7B integrin in murine C2C12 and human Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patient myogenic cell lines. Oral administration of SU9516 in the mdx mouse model of DMD increased α7β1 integrin in skeletal muscle, ameliorated pathology and improved muscle function. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Hypoxia Response Element-Regulated-MMP-9 Promotes Neurological Recovery via Glial Scar Degradation and Angiogenesis in Delayed Cerebral Ischemia

Researchers constructed hypoxia response element (HRE)-regulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) to explore its effect on glial scars and neurogenesis in delayed ischemic stroke. Adult male mice underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion and received a stereotactic injection of lentivirus carrying HRE-MMP-9 or normal saline/lentivirus-green fluorescent protein seven days after ischemia. They found that HRE-MMP-9 improved neurological outcomes, reduced ischemia-induced brain atrophy and degraded glial scars. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Multicellular Biohybrid Materials: Probing the Interplay of Cells of Different Types Precisely Positioned and Constrained on 3D Wireframe-Like Microstructures

The authors proposed a method for the fabrication of advanced multicellular biohybrid materials. The method is based on wireframe-like 3D microstructures onto which several types of cells are successfully positioned and arranged by optical manipulation. Experiments exploring cell dynamics revealed geometry-dependent maximal migration and extension distances. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

In Vivo Evaluation of Mg–6Zn and Titanium Alloys on Collagen Metabolism in the Healing of Intestinal Anastomosis

Scientists compared the effects of the Mg–6Zn and the titanium alloys on collagen metabolism in the healing of the intestinal tract in vivo. The study included Sprague-Dawley rats and their effect was compared on rat’s intestinal tract, using serum magnesium, radiology, and immunohistochemistry in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Bioreactor Mechanically Guided 3D Mesenchymal Stem Cell Chondrogenesis Using a Biocompatible Novel Thermo-Reversible Methylcellulose-Based Hydrogel

Investigators tested a novel thermo-reversible hydrogel composed of 8% w/v methylcellulose (MC) in a 0.05 M Na₂SO₄ solution. MC hydrogel was obtained by dispersion technique and its thermo-reversibility, mechanical properties, degradation and swelling were investigated, demonstrating a solution-gelation transition between 34 and 37 °C and a low bulk degradation after one month. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity Stimulates N-Cadherin Shedding and the Soluble N-Cadherin Ectodomain Promotes Classical Microglial Activation

Scientists examined proteolysis of N-cadherin (N-cdh) by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7. With in vitro digest assays, they tested N-cdh cleavage by increasing concentrations of recombinant enzyme. They also tested MMP-7 for its potential to stimulate N-cdh shedding from cultured neural cells. [J Neuroinflammation] Full Article

Distinct ErbB2 Receptor Populations Differentially Interact with Beta1 Integrin in Breast Cancer Cell Models

Investigators studied the interaction between ErbB2 and beta1 integrin in different scenarios of expression and activation. They determined that beta1 integrin and ErbB2 colocalization is dependent on the expression level of both receptors exclusively in adherent cells. In suspension cells, lack of focal adhesions left integrins free to diffuse on the plasma membrane and interacted with ErbB2 even at low expression levels of both receptors. [PLoS One] Full Article

Natural Polymeric Hydrogel Evaluation for Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering

Rheological properties, water absorption rates, degradation stability, tensile characteristics, and the ability to support in vitro myogenesis were compared in collagen I, agarose, alginate, fibrin, and collagen chitosan. Collagen, collagen chitosan, and fibrin demonstrated high elasticity and 100% stretch without failure, agarose was the most brittle, and alginate demonstrated poor handleabilty. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract

Basement Membranes

The authors discuss established and emerging roles of basement membranes (BMs) in development, tissue construction, and tissue homeostasis. They also explore how cells traverse BM barriers, the roles of BMs in human diseases, and future directions for the field. [Curr Biol] Full Article

Decellularized Material as Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Studies in Long Gap Esophageal Atresia

Researchers outline the various strategies and challenges in esophageal tissue engineering, highlighting the evolution of ideas in the development of decellularized scaffolds for clinical use. They explore the interplay between clinical needs, ethical dilemmas, and manufacturing challenges in the development of a tissue engineered decellularized scaffold for esophageal atresia. [Expert Opin Biol Ther] Abstract

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

HYMOVIS^® Demonstrates Superior Biomechanical Lubricating Properties

Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A. announced new data will be presented. Scientists demonstrated that there are clear differences in the lubricating abilities of this cohort of hyaluronic acid (HA) products. HYMOVIS^® was an exceptional viscous lubricant in moving cartilage to a low-friction regime, having superior biomechanical lubricating properties amongst all the HAs evaluated. [Press release from Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A. (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Orthopedic Research Society (ORS), San Diego] Press Release

Humacyte Receives FDA Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) Expedited Review Designation for HUMACYL^® in Vascular Access for Hemodialysis

Humacyte announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted HUMACYL^®, its investigational human acellular vessel (HAV), the RMAT designation. This designation means that the FDA will help facilitate the efficient development and expedited review of the HAV for vascular access to patients in need of life-sustaining hemodialysis. [Humacyte] Press Release

JUVÉDERM VOLLURE^™ XC Approved by U.S. FDA for Correction of Facial Wrinkles and Folds in Adults over the Age of 21

Allergan plc announced that the company has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market JUVÉDERM VOLLURE^™ XC, for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, in adults over the age of 21. In the US pivotal clinical trial, a majority of subjects saw improvement in moderate to severe nasolabial folds for up to 18 months. [Allergan plc] Press Release

Canada Budget Falls Flat with Scientists

The budget that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government released lives up to his promises to emphasize innovation, and to encourage links between industry and academia. But it also presents scientists with a depressing, and unexpected, freeze on the main funding streams for basic research. [Nature News] Editorial

Predatory Journals Recruit Fake Editor

Thousands of academic journals do not aspire to quality. They exist primarily to extract fees from authors. These ‘predatory’ journals exhibit questionable marketing schemes, follow lax or non-existent peer-review procedures and fail to provide scientific rigor or transparency. [Nature News] Editorial

South Korea’s Scientists Seek Change amid Political Chaos

When South Korea’s Constitutional Court removed scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye from office on 10^th March, citizens rejoiced in the streets — and many scientists breathed a sigh of relief. Her downfall has inspired a public appetite for broad governmental reforms, including changes in how the country supports scientific research. Many in the research community hope to end South Korea’s decades-long focus on applied research and shift more resources to basic science. [Nature News] Editorial

Ethical Guidelines on Lab-Grown Embryos Beg for Revamping, Scientists Say

Researchers in the U.K. and U.S. recently succeeded for the first time in growing embryos in the lab for nearly two weeks before terminating them, showing that the so-called 14-day rule is no longer a scientific limitation — although it remains a cultural one. Now, a group of Harvard University scientists has published a paper arguing that it is time to reconsider the 14-day rule because of advances in synthetic biology. [Scientific American] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Tissue Repair & Regeneration
June 4-9, 2017
New London, United States

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

NEW Professors/Associate Professors/Assistant Professors – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

NEW Open Rank Professor – Materials Science and Engineering (The Pennsylvania State University)

NEW Bioengineer I – Generation of Cellular Supply for Pre-Clinical Studies (Celgene Corporation)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cardiac Cell Membrane Expression of Ion Channels (UMR_S1166-Cardiovascular diseases, Metabolism and Nutriomics Research Unit)

Professors/Associate Professors/Assistant Professors (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

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)

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