Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.26 | Jul 6 2017

TOP STORY

Changes in E-Cadherin Rigidity Sensing Regulate Cell Adhesion

Using mechanically tunable polyacrylamide (PA) gels functionalized with the extracellular domain of E-cadherin, the authors showed that E-cadherin–dependent epithelial cell adhesion was sensitive to changes in PA gel elastic modulus that produced striking differences in cell morphology, actin organization, and membrane dynamics. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Improving In Vivo Outcomes of Decellularized Vascular Grafts via Incorporation of a Novel Extracellular Matrix

Scientists investigated the use of mouse thrombospondin-2 knockout (TSP2 KO) cells, which secrete a non-thrombogenic and pro-migratory extracellular matrix (TSP2 KO ECM), to modify small diameter vascular grafts. After four weeks, grafts with incorporated TSP2 KO ECM showed improved endothelial and mural cell recruitment, and a decreased failure rate compared to control grafts. [Biomaterials] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Multicompartment Drug Release System for Dynamic Modulation of Tissue Responses

Pharmacological modulation of responses to injury is complicated by the need to deliver multiple drugs with spatiotemporal resolution. Researchers fabricated a novel controlled delivery system containing three separate compartments with each releasing its contents over different timescales. In vivo, drug eluting constructs successfully mitigated macrophage fusion at one week and fibrotic encapsulation in a dose-dependent manner at four weeks, demonstrating effective release of both drugs over different timescales. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

Extracellular Matrix Promotes Clathrin-Dependent Endocytosis of Prolactin and STAT5 Activation in Differentiating Mammary Epithelial Cells

Scientists showed that clathrin-mediated endocytosis is required for ECM-dependent STAT5 activation. In the presence of ECM, prolactin was internalized via a clathrin-dependent, but caveolin-independent, route. This occurred independently from JAK2 and Rac signaling, but was required for full phosphorylation and activation of STAT5. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cell Sex Affects Extracellular Matrix Protein Expression and Proliferation of Smooth Muscle Progenitor Cells Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators examined differences in the differentiation of male and female human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into smooth muscle progenitor cells (pSMCs), and investigated the effect of 17β-estradiol on the ECM metabolisms and cell proliferation rates of the pSMCs. Male and female hPSCs had similar differentiation efficiencies and generated morphologically comparable pSMCs under a standard differentiation protocol, but the derived pSMCs showed sex differences in expression of ECM proteins, such as MMP-2 and TIMP-1, and cell proliferation rates. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Characterization of the Extracellular Matrix of Normal and Diseased Tissues Using Proteomics

Scientists provide optimized protocols to solubilize ECM proteins from normal or tumor tissues, digest the proteins into peptides, analyze ECM peptides by mass spectrometry, and interpret the mass spectrometric data. They present two novel R-script-based web tools allowing rapid annotation and relative quantification of ECM proteins, peptides and intensity/abundance in mass spectrometric data output files. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

Comparative Characterization of Decellularized Renal Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Based on structural and functional characteristics, investigators developed a scoring system that allowed intra- and inter-study comparison of decellularization strategies. Structural ECM-conservation was strongly dependent on decellularization temperature, while preservation of glycosaminoglycans, collagens and cytokines was affected by the detergents used. [Biomed Mater] Abstract

Gallic Acid Inhibited Matrix Invasion and AP-1/ETS-1-Mediated MMP-1 Transcription in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells

The authors investigated the anti-invasive effect of gallic acid on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (NPC-BM1) and its related mechanism. Gallic acid inhibited the invasion of NPC-BM1 cells dose- and time-dependently without significant cytotoxic effect. Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarray analysis revealed matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) as the most down-regulated gene in NPC-BM1 cells by gallic acid. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

The Effect of Tomatine on Metastasis Related Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) Activities in Breast Cancer Cell Model

Researchers evaluated the effect of tomatine on cytotoxicity, apoptosis and MMP inhibition in MCF-7 cell lines. Activation of MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-9NGAL had been shown to decrease significantly in cells treated with tomatine by gelatin zymography compared to the control. As a result, MMP activity and cell proliferation were suppressed by tomatine. [Gene] Abstract

Use of Additives, Scaffolds and Extracellular Matrix Components for Improvement of Human Pancreatic Islet Outcomes In Vitro: A Systematic Review

In an effort to improve islet yield during culture period, the authors have tested a variety of additives in culture media as well as alternative culture devices, such as scaffolds. However, due to the use of different categories of additives or devices, it is difficult to draw a conclusion on the benefits of these strategies. The authors summarize the results of studies that described the use of medium additives, scaffolds or ECM components during human pancreatic islets culture. [Islets] Abstract

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

IsoRay Receives FDA Response to 510(k) Application for GammaTile™

IsoRay, Inc. announced that it has received a response from the FDA regarding the company’s pending 510(k) application for the GammaTile™ radiation therapy system. In its response, the FDA indicated the need for IsoRay, and its co-applicant GammaTile LLC, to submit additional data within the next 180 days as a condition of securing FDA clearance for the novel GammaTile™ device. [IsoRay, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Xiapex^® Gets Recommendation to Be Made Available on National Health Service in England

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB announced that for the first time people in England with the disabling hand condition Dupuytren’s disease will have access to Xiapex^® injections, a pharmacological treatment for contracture of their fingers, on the National Health Service after recommendation from The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. [Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB] Press Release

French Scientist Fined for Failure to Disclose Industry Ties

In an unprecedented court case in Paris, an eminent French lung specialist has been fined €50,000 and given a six-month suspended jail sentence because he didn’t disclose his ties to the oil industry during a Senate air-pollution inquiry. [Nature News] Editorial

House Lawmakers Balk at Most Trump Science Cuts in Early Bills

No. That’s the first official answer from lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives to President Donald Trump’s request to make deep budget cuts at several key science funding agencies. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Europe’s next Big Science-Funding Program Urged to Double Its Budget

Midway through the European Union’s sprawling seven-year, €75-billion research-funding program known as Horizon 2020, scientists are already angling for more money and less red tape in its successor. [Nature News] Editorial

Germany and Poland Launch Research ‘Twinning’ Effort

Germany and Poland are to jointly fund top scientists to start research groups at Polish institutes, in a scheme that could provide a new blueprint for east–west research collaboration in the European Union. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Regenerative Biology and Applications: Cell Differentiation, Tissue Organization and Biomedical Engineering
October 15-19, 2017
Hong Kong, Hong Kong

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cartilage Biology (University of Nebraska)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Research (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanobiology of Tissue Repair (St. Michael’s Hospital)

Pharmacology Scientist – Matrix Biology (Symic Bio, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Gene Regulation in Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration (Northwestern University)

Assistant Professor – Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (Harvard University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Tissue Fibrosis (University of California, San Francisco)

Group Leaders – Multiple Areas (French National Center for Scientific Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Proteoglycan Remodeling (University of Alberta)

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

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