Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.49 | Dec 14 2017

TOP STORY

Stem Cells Sense Neighborhood Density to Make Decisions on Their Behavior

Scientists showed that cell density and crowding play a critical role in instructing single stem cell fate decisions and movement of differentiating cells upwards within the tissue. This ensures that all cell types are correctly positioned within the tissue. [Press release from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging in Cologne discussing online prepublication in Nature Cell Biology] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Argeted Apoptosis of Myofibroblasts with the BH3 Mimetic ABT-263 Reverses Established Fibrosis

Persistent myofibroblast activation distinguishes pathological fibrosis from physiological wound healing, suggesting that therapies selectively inducing myofibroblast apoptosis could prevent progression and potentially reverse established fibrosis in diseases such as scleroderma. Investigators demonstrated that fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation driven by matrix stiffness increases the mitochondrial priming of these activated cells. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Editorial

Direction of Actin Flow Dictates Integrin LFA-1 Orientation during Leukocyte Migration

Integrin αβ heterodimer cell surface receptors mediate adhesive interactions that provide traction for cell migration. Researchers tested whether the integrin, when engaged to an extracellular ligand and the cytoskeleton, adopts a specific orientation dictated by the direction of actin flow on the surface of migrating cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Biocompatible Electroactive Tetra(Aniline) Conjugated Peptide Nanofibers for Neural Differentiation

A supramolecular electroactive nanosystem with tetra(aniline) (TA) containing peptide nanofibers was developed and utilized for nerve regeneration. Self-assembled TA-conjugated peptide nanofibers demonstrated electroactive behavior. The electroactive self-assembled peptide nanofibers formed a well-defined 3D nanofiber network mimicking the extracellular matrix of the neuronal cells. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

Decellularized Heart ECM Hydrogel Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide for Improved Angiogenesis

The authors developed a supercritical carbon dioxide and ethanol co-solvent decellularization method, which is a detergent-free system that prevents ECM structure disruption and retains various angiogenic proteins in the heart decellularized ECM, and tested on rat heart tissues. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Lysyl Oxidase-Like 3 Is Required for Melanoma Cell Survival by Maintaining Genomic Stability

Lysyl oxidase-like 3 (LOXL3) is a member of the lysyl oxidase family comprising multifunctional enzymes with depicted roles in extracellular matrix maturation, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. Scientists showed that LOXL3 silencing impairs cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis in various melanoma cell lines. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Substrate Stiffness Influences Phenotype and Function of Human Antigen-Presenting Dendritic Cells

The authors investigated the effect of substrate stiffness on the phenotype and function of dendritic cells (DCs) by conditioning DCs on polyacrylamide substrates of 2, 12 and 50 kPa. They found that C-type lectin expression on immature DCs is regulated by substrate stiffness, resulting in differential antigen internalization. [Sci Rep] Full Article

IGFBP3 Deposited in the Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Secreted Extracellular Matrix Promotes Bone Formation

Investigators tested the osteoinductive properties of a human umbilical cord MSC-secreted extracellular matrix construct (hUCMSC-ECM) in a large femur defect of a severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model. The hUCMSC-ECM improved the colonization of endogenous MSCs and bone regeneration, similar to the hUCMSC-seeded scaffold and superior to the scaffold substrate. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Decellularized Human Liver Extracellular Matrix (hDLM) Mediated Hepatic Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (HIPSc)

Scientists developed a decellularization protocol that efficiently removes cellular material, while retaining extracellular matrix components. Subsequently, hiPSC were differentiated on the decellularized human liver matrix (hDLM) scaffolds using an established hepatic differentiation protocol. They demonstrated that using hDLM led to upregulation of functional hepatic markers when compared to standard differentiation conditions. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

The Binding Interface of Kindlin-2 and ILK Involves Asp344/Asp352/Thr356 in Kindlin-2 and Arg243/Arg334 in ILK

Using molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations, investigators showed that Asp344, Asp352 and Thr356 in kindlin-2, and Arg243 and Arg334 in integrin-linked kinase (ILK) kinase domain are important in kindlin-2/ILK complex formation. Mutations that disrupt these interactions abrogate kindlin-2 and ILK co-localization in HeLa cells. [FEBS Lett] Abstract

Hyperbranched Poly(ϵ-Lysine) Substrate Presenting the Laminin Sequence YIGSR Induces the Formation of Spheroids in Adult Bone Marrow Stem Cells

Researchers demonstrated the potential of a synthetic substrate to mimic the stem cell niche in vitro. The side amino groups of a linear Poly-L-lysine were modified with hyperbranched poly-(ϵ-lysine) peptides, named as dendrons, tethered with the laminin-mimicking sequence, YIGSR. [PLoS One] Full Article

Application of 3D Cultured Multicellular Spheroid Tumor Models in Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery System Research

Scientists summarize the delivery barriers for nano-carriers presented in tumor microenvironment, the characteristics and formation methods for applicable multicellular tumor spheroid culture models and recent studies related to their applications in tumor-targeted drug delivery system research. [J Control Release] Abstract

Matrix Metalloproteinase Functions in Hepatic Injury and Fibrosis

The author summarizes and updates on current knowledge about expression pattern and the central roles of matrix metalloproteinase in hepatic fibrosis. [Matrix Biol] Abstract

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

Verastem Announces the Presentation of Phase I Duvelisib Combination Data in T-Cell Lymphomas

Verastem, Inc. announced the presentation of new preclinical and Phase I clinical data from an investigator-sponsored study evaluating the safety and activity of oral duvelisib in combination with romidepsin or bortezomib in relapsed or refractory T-cell lymphomas. [Press release from Verastem, Inc. discussing research presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2017 Annual Meeting, Atlanta] Press Release

Alexion and Halozyme Enter License Agreement for ENHANZE Technology

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced a collaboration and license agreement that enables Alexion to use Halozyme’s ENHANZE^® drug-delivery technology in the development of subcutaneous formulations for their portfolio of products. [Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Bicycle Therapeutics and Cancer Research UK Named Best Partnership Alliance of the Year at 2017 Scrip Awards

Bicycle Therapeutics and Cancer Research UK announced that their collaboration has secured a prestigious Scrip Award, winning 2017’s Best Partnership Alliance. [Bicycle Therapeutics] Press Release

$5 Million Gift for Medical Research with Galli Chair in Medical Biology

Philanthropist Pamela Galli has given medical biology a $5 million boost with the establishment of the Lorenzo and Pamela Galli Chair in Medical Biology at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the University of Melbourne. [The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research] Press Release

French Researchers Hope New Chief Will Revitalize Troubled Funding Agency

French scientists are hopeful that the newly appointed chief of a major research-funding agency will revive an organization suffering from squeezed budgets and staff discontent. [Nature News] Editorial

Iran’s Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Jailed Scholar

Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence handed to Ahmadreza Djalali, a scholar who worked in Europe, according to the human-rights group Amnesty International. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW EMBO-EMBL Symposia: Organoids: Modeling Organ Development and Disease in 3D Culture
September 10-13, 2018
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Extracellular Matrix Protein Biology (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

NEW Faculty Position(s) – Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Matrix & Metastasis (Garvan Institute of Medical Research)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Mechanobiology (University of Michigan)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Renal Fibrosis and Kidney Disease (Vanderbilt University)

Tenure Track Positions – Fibrosis Diseasome (University of Oulu)

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

Faculty Position – Regenerative Medicine (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Emory University)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance (Tufts University)

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