Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.21 | Jun 1 2017

TOP STORY

Autocrine WNT2 Signaling in Fibroblasts Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression

Scientists identified FZD8 as the putative WNT2 receptor in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Three-dimensional organotypic co-culture assays revealed that WNT2-mediated fibroblast motility and extracellular matrix remodeling enhanced cancer cell invasion of cell lines even harboring mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli/β-catenin pathway. [Oncogene] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Synaptic Remodeling Depends on Signaling between Serotonin Receptors and the Extracellular Matrix

Rewiring of synaptic circuitry pertinent to memory formation has been associated with morphological changes in dendritic spines and with extracellular matrix remodeling. Investigators mechanistically linked these processes by uncovering a signaling pathway involving the serotonin 5-HT7 receptor, matrix metalloproteinase 9, the hyaluronan receptor CD44, and the small GTPase Cdc42. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

PTEN Inhibits Replicative Senescence-Induced MMP-1 Expression by Regulating NOX4-Mediated ROS in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

The authors confirmed that inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase signaling pathway by PTEN gene transfer abolished the NADPH oxidase (NOX)-4 and MMP-1 expression. NOX-4 down-expression of replicative-aged skin cells abolished the MMP-1 expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Periodic Mechanical Stress Induces Chondrocyte Proliferation and Matrix Synthesis via CaMKII-Mediated Pyk2 Signaling

Researchers probed the roles of CaMKII and Pyk2 signaling in periodic mechanical stress-mediated chondrocyte proliferation and matrix synthesis. Their results indicated that periodic mechanical stress promotes chondrocyte proliferation and matrix synthesis through the integrinβ1–CaMKII–Pyk2–ERK1/2 signaling cascade. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Heparan Sulfate Alterations in Extracellular Matrix Structures and FGF-2 Signaling Impairment in the Aged Neurogenic Niche

Investigators observed a reduction in heparan sulfate (HS) 6-O-sulfation, which is critical for fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) signal transduction, and failure of the FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the aged subventricular zone. They observed increased HS 6-O-endo-sulfatase, an enzyme that may be responsible for the HS modifications in aged fractones. [J Neurochem] Abstract

Retinoic Acid Receptor Gamma Impacts Cellular Adhesion, Alpha5Beta1 Integrin Expression and Proliferation in K562 Cells

Researchers investigated the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonists on K562 cellular adhesion, proliferation, and α5β1 integrin cell surface expression. RARγ agonist exposure increased K562 cellular adhesion to RGD containing extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin and FN-120 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, while RARα or RARβ agonist treatment had no effect on cellular adhesion. [PLoS One] Full Article

Dysregulated miR-127-5p Contributes to Type II Collagen Degradation by Targeting Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 in Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Investigators evaluated the correlation between miR-127-5p level and the degeneration of human intervertebral discs and explored the potential mechanisms. They confirmed that miR-127-5p was significantly downregulated in nucleus pulposus tissue of degenerative discs and its expression was inversely correlated with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 mRNA levels. They revealed that MMP-13 may act as a target of miR-127-5p. [Biochimie] Abstract

Collagen-Derived N-Acetylated Proline-Glycine-Proline Upregulates the Expression of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Extracellular Matrix Proteases in Nucleus Pulposus Cells via the NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways

The authors investigated the effect of N-acetylated proline-glycine-proline (N-Ac-PGP) on the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and extracellular matrix proteases in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and the molecular mechanism underlying this effect. Milliplex assays showed that NP cells treated with N-Ac-PGP secreted higher levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α and C-C motif ligand 2 compared with the control. [Int J Mol Med] Abstract | Full Article (Download)

Omentin-1 Prevents Cartilage Matrix Destruction by Regulating Matrix Metalloproteinases

Investigator’s results indicated that omentin-1 suppressed expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 induced by the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) at both the mRNA and protein levels in human chondrocytes. Administration of omentin-1 abolished IL-1β-induced degradation of type II collagen and aggrecan, the two major extracellular matrix components in articular cartilage, in a dose-dependent manner. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract

MGF E Peptide Pretreatment Improves Collagen Synthesis and Cell Proliferation of Injured Human ACL Fibroblasts via MEK-ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway

To verify whether mechano-growth factor (MGF) E peptide could restore the cell proliferation of injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) fibroblasts, ACL fibroblasts pretreated with the MGF E peptide were subjected to injurious stretch and the outcomes were evaluated at 0 and 24 hours. The matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity/expression was up-regulated, but the cell proliferation was inhibited. Exogenous MGF E peptide decreased the type I/III collagen synthesis at 0 hours but improved the type III collagen synthesis at 24 hours. [Growth Factors] Abstract

Proteoglycans, Ion Channels and Cell–Matrix Adhesion

All syndecans appear to be connected to the actin cytoskeleton and can therefore contribute to cell adhesion, notably to the extracellular matrix and migration. Recent data suggest that syndecans can regulate stretch-activated ion channels. Scientists review the structure and function of syndecans and the ion channels, along with an analysis of ion channel functions in cell–matrix adhesion. [Biochem J] Abstract

Injectable Hydrogels for Cartilage and Bone Tissue Engineering

Researchers describe the selection of appropriate biomaterials and fabrication methods to prepare novel injectable hydrogels for cartilage and bone tissue engineering. In addition, the biology of cartilage and the bony extracellular matrix is summarized. [Bone Res] Full Article

Current Approaches for Modulation of the Nanoscale Interface in the Regulation of Cell Behavior

The authors discuss relevant nanofabrication techniques and how they are combined with bioengineering applications to mimic the natural extracellular matrix and create valuable nanoscale interfaces. [Nanomed Nanotech Biol Med] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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

Human Cell Atlas Data Platform Kicks Off with Support from CZI

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has announced financial support for the Human Cell Atlas, which is using sequencing technology to redefine every cell in the body. Funding and engineering support from CZI will enable EMBL-EBI, the Broad Institute and the University of California Santa Cruz Genomics Institute to set up an open, cloud-based Data Coordination Platform to check, share and analyze the vast amounts of diverse information generated. [EMBL-EBI] Press Release

Latest Grant Awards Bring More than $6 Million to Roswell Park Research Projects

Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute have garnered $6.4 million in new grant funding to support important investigations. This includes a two-year, $360,000 Peter T. Rowley Breast Cancer Project grant to Sharon Evans, PhD, Professor of Oncology and Immunology in the Department of Immunology, funded by the New York State Department of Health to investigate mechanisms that lead to immunotherapy treatment failure in aggressive breast cancer. [Roswell Park Cancer Institute] Press Release

Trials of Embryonic Stem Cells to Launch in China

In the next few months, surgeons in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou will carefully drill through the skulls of people with Parkinson’s disease and inject four million immature neurons derived from human embryonic stem (ES) cells into their brains. Then they will patch the patients up, send them home and wait. This will mark the start of the first clinical trial in China using human ES cells, and the first one worldwide aimed at treating Parkinson’s disease using ES cells from fertilized embryos. [Nature News] Editorial

Pay-to-View Blacklist of Predatory Journals Set to Launch

Scholarly-services firm Cabell’s International says that it will launch its own list of predatory journals: those that deceive their authors or readers, for example by charging fees to publish papers without conducting peer review. [Nature News] Editorial

Web of Science Owner Buys up Booming Peer-Review Platform

The owner of the vast science-citation database Web of Science — Clarivate Analytics — is buying up a firm that has gathered hundreds of thousands of peer-review records, in a deal that could lead to new ways of organizing scientific peer review and preventing peer-review fraud. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cold Spring Harbor Stem Cell Biology Meeting
September 25-27, 2017
Cold Spring Harbor, United States

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

NEW Assistant Professor – Biofilms (University of Maryland)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Degenerative Disc Disease (NUI Galway)

NEW Part Time Faculty – Developmental Biology (Boston College Biology Department)

NEW Assistant Professor – Genetics (University of Trento)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Proteoglycan Remodeling (University of Alberta)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Tendon and Connective Tissue Biology (Weill Cornell Medical College)

Project Research Scientist – Tumor Cell Biology (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Associate – Molecular and Cell Biology (Stony Brook University)

PhD Position – Extracellular Matrix in Cancer Progression (University of Copenhagen)

Biomaterials Scientist – Tissue Engineering (VitroLabs Inc.)

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