Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.12 | Mar 30 2017

TOP STORY

Friction Forces Position the Neural Anlage

Friction forces lead to global rearrangement of cells within the neurectoderm and determined the position of the neural anlage. Using a combination of experiments and simulations, the authors showed that this process depends on hydrodynamic coupling between neurectoderm and prechordal plate as a result of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion between those tissues. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Nerve Cells Decide to Orient inside an Injectable Hydrogel with Minimal Structural Guidance

Scientists report a new class of tissue regenerative materials that can be injected and form an anisotropic matrix with controlled dimensions using rod-shaped, magnetoceptive microgel objects. Microgels are doped with small quantities of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, allowing alignment by external magnetic fields in the millitesla order. [Nano Lett] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Transformable Nanomaterials as an Artificial Extracellular Matrix for Inhibiting Tumor Invasion and Metastasis

Inspired by the formation of natural extracellular matrix and the in situ self-assembly strategy developed in their group, researchers constructed in situ an artificial extracellular matrix based on transformable laminin-mimic peptide 1 for inhibition of tumor invasion and metastasis. [ACS Nano] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Engineering an Injectable Muscle-Specific Microenvironment for Improved Cell Delivery Using a Nanofibrous Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel

The authors showed that engineering a muscle-specific microenvironment, using a nanofibrous decellularized skeletal muscle extracellular matrix hydrogel and skeletal muscle fibroblasts, improves myoblast viability and maturation in vitro. In vivo, this translated to improved cell survival and engraftment and increased perfusion as a result of increased vascularization. [ACS Nano] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Proteomic Characterization of Human Multiple Myeloma Bone Marrow Extracellular Matrix

Scientists showed that the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) is remodeled at the mRNA and protein level in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and multiple myeloma (MM) to allow development of a permissive microenvironment. They further demonstrated that two ECM-affiliated proteins, ANXA2 and LGALS1, are more abundant in MM and high expression is associated with a decreased overall survival. [Leukemia] Abstract

RelA/p65 Inhibition Prevents Tendon Adhesion by Modulating Inflammation, Cell Proliferation, and Apoptosis

Investigators detected the upregulation of the NF-κB pathway in human tendon adhesion using a gene chip microarray assay and revealed the overexpression of p65 and extracellular matrix proteins Collagen I, Collagen III, and α-smooth muscle actin in human fibrotic tissues by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. [Cell Death and Disease] Full Article

Extracellular Matrix Protein Reelin Promotes Myeloma Progression by Facilitating Tumor Cell Proliferation and Glycolysis

Researchers examined the expression of Reelin in a large cohort of multiple myeloma patients recorded in Gene Expression Omnibus database and used over-expression and siRNA knockdown of Reelin to investigate the role of Reelin in myeloma cell growth. They found that Reelin expression is negatively associated with myeloma prognosis. Reelin promoted myeloma cell proliferation in vitro as well as in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Intermediate Filament Reorganization Dynamically Influences Cancer Cell Alignment and Migration

In Panc-1 invasive pancreatic cancer cells, keratin phosphorylation in conjunction with actin inhibition was found to be sufficient to reduce cell area below either treatment alone. Scientists then analyzed intersecting keratin and actin fibers in the cytoskeleton of cyclically stretched cells and found no directional correlation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Development of Novel Silk Fibroin/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Sol-Gel Bioactive Glass Composite Matrix by Modified Layer by Layer Electrospinning Method for Bone Tissue Construct Generation

A bilayer deposition of natural biopolymer (silk fibroin) and synthetic polymer (polyvinyl alcohol) solution with 58s bioactive glass sol was done by free liquid surface electrospinning and further stabilized through ethanol washing to fabricate novel nanofibrous composite scaffold. The fabricated composite scaffold possessed superior stiffness, hydrophilicity, bioactivity and superior osteogenic potential. [Biofabrication] Abstract

Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Functionalized with Self-Assembled Micelles of Amphiphilic PEGylated Kartogenin for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Self-assembled PEGylated kartogenin (PEG/KGN) micelles consisting of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hydrophobic KGN, which has been shown to induce chondrogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells, were prepared by covalent crosslinking. Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels containing PEG/KGN micelles (HA/PEG/KGN) were prepared by covalently bonding PEG chains to HA. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Bioamine-Crosslinked Gellan Gum Hydrogel for Neural Tissue Engineering

The authors studied the mechanical and rheological properties of the formed hydrogels, which showed biomimicking properties comparable to naïve rabbit brain tissue under physiologically relevant stress and strain. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal cells demonstrated good cytocompatibility in the gellan gum-based hydrogels. [Biomed Mater] Abstract

A Short Discourse on Vascular Tissue Engineering

Past and current achievements in tissue engineering of microvasculature to perfuse organ specific constructs, small vessels for dialysis grafts, and modified synthetic and pediatric large caliber-vessel grafts are discussed. An emphasis is placed on clinical trial results with small and large-caliber vessel grafts. [NPJ Regen Med] Full Article

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

RepliCel’s Successful RCT-01 Tendon Repair Clinical Trial Shows Signs of Healing Chronic Tendon Problems

RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. reported compelling safety and clinical data from its Phase I/II tendon repair study investigating the use of RepliCel’s type 1 collagen-expressing, hair follicle-derived fibroblasts (RCT-01) as a treatment for Achilles tendinosis. [RepliCel Life Sciences Inc.] Press Release

CorMatrix^® Cardiovascular Inc. Secures USPTO Allowance of Two Additional Patent Claim Sets for Its CanGaroo^® ECM^® Envelope

CorMatrix^® Cardiovascular Incorporated announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has officially allowed two additional claim sets under U.S. Patent Nos. 14/833,354 and 14/833,340 for its CorMatrix^® CanGaroo^® ECM^® envelope system. The CanGaroo^® system comprises a unique ECM^® envelope that is configured to encase implantable cardiac devices including pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators. [CorMatrix^® Cardiovascular Incorporated] Press Release

Trump Wants 2018 NIH Cut to Come from Overhead Payments

The Trump administration could slash $5.8 billion from the 2018 budget of the National Institutes of Health, yet still fund as least as much research by eliminating overhead payments to universities and research institutions, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price told lawmakers. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

European Commission Considering Leap into Open-Access Publishing

One of Europe’s biggest science spenders could soon branch out into publishing. The European Commission, which spends more than €10 billion annually on research, may follow two other big league funders, the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and set up a “publishing platform” for the scientists it funds, in an attempt to accelerate the transition to open-access publishing in Europe. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 2^nd Bioprocessing of Advanced Cellular Therapies Congress
June 8-9, 2017
London, United Kingdom

NEW ISSCR Annual Meeting 2017
June 14-17, 2017
Boston, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – Quantitative Biology of Cell Fate and Tissue Dynamics (University of Oxford)

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

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

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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