Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.28 | Jul 20 2017

TOP STORY

Melatonin Inhibits Nucleus Pulposus (NP) Cell Proliferation and Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Remodeling via the Melatonin Membrane Receptors Mediated PI3K-Akt Pathway

Melatonin down-regulated gene expression of cyclin D1, PCNA, matrix metallopeptidases-3 and -9 and upregulated gene expression of collagen type II alpha 1 chain and aggrecan in NP cells. The effects of melatonin were blocked by luzindole, a non-specific melatonin membrane receptor antagonist. [J Pineal Res] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Fibulin-4 Deposition Requires EMILIN-1 in the Extracellular Matrix of Osteoblasts

By employing confocal immunofluorescence and electron microscopy scientists investigated the localization and extracellular matrix deposition of Elastin-Microfibril-Interface-Located-proteINs (EMILIN)-1 and -2 in tissues of the skeletal system such as cartilage and bone as well as in in vitro cultures of osteoblasts. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Rapid Production of Human Liver Scaffolds for Functional Tissue Engineering by High Shear Stress Oscillation-Decellularization

Researchers report the design and validation of a new methodology for the rapid and accurate production of human acellular liver tissue cubes using normal liver tissue unsuitable for transplantation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Prevascularization of Natural Nanofibrous Extracellular Matrix for Engineering Completely Biological 3D Prevascularized Tissues for Diverse Applications

The authors created a prevascularized human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC)/ECM sheet by co-culturing endothelial cells and hMSCs on a nanofibrous ECM scaffold. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Triptolide Prevents Extracellular Matrix Accumulation in Experimental Diabetic Kidney Disease by Targeting MicroRNA-137/Notch1 Pathway

Researchers found that triptolide significantly decreased albuminuria and improved glomerulosclerosis in rats with diabetic kidney disease. Triptolide also inhibited ECM protein accumulation and the Notch1 pathway activation under diabetic conditions. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Use of Human Aortic Extracellular Matrix as a Scaffold for Construction of Patient-Specific Tissue Engineered Vascular Patch

The authors constructed a tissue-engineered vascular patch using decellularized ECM scaffold obtained from excised human aorta during surgery, which was seeded with patient-derived bone marrow CD34-positive progenitor cells. [Biomed Mater] Abstract

Development and Characterization of a Human Three-Dimensional Chondrosarcoma Culture for In Vitro Drug Testing

It has been suggested that chemoresistance of chondrosarcoma, the cartilage tumor, is caused by the phenotypic microenvironmental features of the tumor tissue, mainly the chondrogenic ECM, and hypoxia. Scientists developed and characterized a multicellular tumor spheroid of human chondrosarcoma HEMC-SS cells to gain insight into tumor cell biology and drug response. [PLoS One] Full Article

The Extracellular Matrix and Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Regulate Cancer Stem Cell Function in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Investigators examined the impact of ECM proteins on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cancer stem cells. They quantified the effect of ECM proteins, β1-integrin, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) on clonogenic PDAC growth and migration in vitro and tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis in vivo in nude mice using shRNA and overexpression constructs as well as small molecule FAK inhibitors. [PLoS One] Full Article

Combined Effects of Oscillating Hydrostatic Pressure, Perfusion and Encapsulation in a Novel Bioreactor for Enhancing Extracellular Matrix Synthesis by Bovine Chondrocytes

The biochemical and mechanical properties of bovine articular chondrocytes encapsulated in agarose scaffolds cultured in bioreactors for 21 days were compared to cells statically cultured in agarose scaffolds in addition to static micromass and pellet cultures. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract

Enhanced Bone Repair Induced by Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Osteogenic Extracellular Matrix Ornamented Small Intestinal Submucosa

Scientists designed an osteogenic ECM coated bioscaffold and applied it to critical bone defect repair with adipose-derived stem cells. [Regen Med] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Hypoxia and Redox Signaling on Extracellular Matrix Remodeling: From the Mechanisms to the Pathological Implications

The authors review what is known about some of the most studied matricellular proteins and their regulation by hypoxia and redox signaling, as well as the pathological implications of such regulation. [Antioxid Redox Signal] Abstract

Decellularized Extracellular Matrix: A Step towards the Next Generation Source for Bioink Manufacturing

Researchers describe the important roles of ECM. The representative methods of decellularization and conventional applications of decellularized ECM (dECM) are introduced, followed by the recent achievements in dECM bioinks and their future directions. [Biofabrication] Abstract

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

U.S. FDA Designates Mallinckrodt’s StrataGraft^® as Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy

Mallinckrodt plc announced that StrataGraft^® regenerative skin tissue is among the first products to be designated as a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy by the FDA under the provisions of the 21^st Century Cures Act. [Mallinckrodt plc] Press Release

SpinalCyte, LLC Receives New Japanese Patent

SpinalCyte, LLC announced the issuance of Japanese Patent No. 6151006, “Methods and Compositions for Repair of Cartilage Using an In Vivo Bioreactor.” [SpinalCyte, LLC (Business Wire Inc.)] Press Release

Some Scientists Hate NIH’s New Definition of a Clinical Trial. Here’s Why

Scientists in behavioral research fields — from cognitive psychology to vision science — were dismayed to learn that the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, could soon deem their studies to be clinical trials. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Salk Institute under Fire for ‘Smear’ on Women Suing It for Discrimination

Alleging decades of gender discrimination, two senior female scientists sued the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, sparking a public relations debacle that has engulfed the venerable institution and could threaten its appeal to donors and new researchers. Leaders of the San Diego, California, research center have strenuously denied the allegations made by biologists Vicki Lundblad and Katherine Jones, and publicly questioned their productivity and the quality of their scientific work. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Relatively Few NIH Grantees Get Lion’s Share of Agency’s Funding

The rich have been getting richer in the biomedical research enterprise, and the system favors those who are already doing pretty well, according to a new analysis of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant recipients. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 6^th Annual International Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation
November 1-3, 2017
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cartilage Biology and Regenerative Medicine (University of Nebraska Medical Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Systems Microscopy of Cancer Cell Migration (Karolinska Institutet)

Masters Student – Fabrication and Investigation of Nano-Bio interfaces (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology)

PhD Studentship – Collagen Based Scaffolds (Swansea University)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cartilage Biology (University of Nebraska)

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

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)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Proteoglycan Remodeling (University of Alberta)

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