Extracellular Matrix News Volume 9.15 | Apr 19 2018

TOP STORY

Blocking Matrix-Forming Protein Might Prevent Heart Failure

Scientists used an experimental targeted molecular therapy to block a matrix-forming protein in heart cells damaged by heart attack, reducing levels of scarred muscle tissue and saving mouse models from heart failure. [Press release from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Circulation] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Specialized Fibroblast Differentiated States Underlie Scar Formation in the Infarcted Mouse Heart

Investigators employed three different mouse lineage-tracing models and stage-specific gene profiling to phenotypically analyze and classify resident cardiac fibroblast dynamics during myocardial infarction injury and stable scar formation. [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Matrix Stiffness Controls Lymphatic Vessel Formation through Regulation of a GATA2-Dependent Transcriptional Program

Researchers showed that matrix stiffness controls lymphatic vascular morphogenesis. Atomic force microscopy measurements in mouse embryos revealed that venous lymphatic endothelial cell progenitors experience a decrease in substrate stiffness upon migration out of the cardinal vein, which induces a GATA2-dependent transcriptional program required to form the first lymphatic vessels. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Cerebrospinal Fluid Markers of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling, Synaptic Plasticity and Neuroinflammation before and after Cranial Radiotherapy

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of proteins involved in inflammatory signaling, synaptic plasticity and ECM integrity were investigated following radiotherapy to the brain. The investigated ECM proteins, brevican and neurocan, showed a decline following prophylactic cranial irradiation. [J Intern Med] Abstract

Constrained Adherable Area of Nanotopographic Surfaces Promotes Cell Migration through the Regulation of Focal Adhesion via Focal Adhesion Kinase/Rac1 Activation

Researchers propose a novel concept of adherable area on cell migration using isotropic nanopore surfaces with sufficient nanopore depth by adopting a high aspect ratio. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Perfusion-Decellularization of Human Ear Grafts Enables ECM-Based Scaffolds for Auricular Vascularized Composite Tissue Engineering

Scientists propose a new method to process human auricles in order to provide a poorly immunogenic, complex and vascularized ear graft scaffold. ECM structure and composition were preserved. Implanted scaffolds were tolerated in vivo, with acceptable inflammation, remodeling, and anti-donor antibody formation. Seeding experiments demonstrated cell engraftment and viability. [Acta Biomater] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Injectable, Porous, Biohybrid Hydrogels Incorporating Decellularized Tissue Components for Soft Tissue Applications

The authors developed a platform technique to rapidly form pores in a thermally responsive injectable hydrogel, poly(NIPAAm-co-VP-co-MAPLA) by using mannitol particles as porogens. In a rat hindlimb muscle injection model, hydrogels incorporating porosity had significantly accelerated cellular infiltration. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Circular RNA Circ-4099 Is Induced by TNF-α and Regulates ECM Synthesis by Blocking miR-616-5p Inhibition of Sox9 in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

The role of circ-4099 in intervertebral disc degeneration and its mechanism were evaluated by qRT-PCR and gain-of-function/loss-of-function studies. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

Switching Between Individual and Collective Motility in B Lymphocytes Is Controlled by Cell-Matrix Adhesion and Inter-Cellular Interactions

Researchers revealed the adaptive nature of B lymphocyte motility and group dynamics, which are shaped by an interplay between and cell:matrix and cell:cell interactions. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Native Collagen Hydrogel Nanofibers with Anisotropic Structure Using Core-Shell Electrospinning

Electrospinning using a core-shell nozzle was employed to spin an aqueous acidic solution of collagen and encapsulate it within a shell of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Subsequently, the core collagen was gelled, and the shell PVP was washed away using a basic ethanol solution to yield anisotropic collagen hydrogel nanofibers. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Organ-Derived Decellularized Extracellular Matrix: A Game Changer for Bioink Manufacturing?

The authors review bioinks derived from different decellularized organs, the techniques used to obtain these bioinks, and the characterization methods used to evaluate their quality. [Trends Biotechnol] Abstract

Liver Fibrosis: Direct Antifibrotic Agents and Targeted Therapies

Researchers discuss targeted antifibrotic therapies that address molecules and mechanisms that are central to fibrogenesis or fibrolysis, including strategies that allow targeting of activated hepatic stellate cells and myofibroblasts and other fibrogenic effector cells. [Matrix Biol] Abstract

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

Aziyo Announces CanGaroo Strategic Co-Distribution Agreement with BIOTRONIK US

Aziyo Biologics, Inc. announced that it has entered into a US co-distribution agreement for its CanGaroo^® Bio Envelope with BIOTRONIK, Inc., a global leader in cardio- and endovascular medical technology. CanGaroo Bio Envelopes are a natural ECM scaffold that securely hold cardiovascular implantable electronic devices to create a stable environment following implantation. [Aziyo Biologics, Inc.] Press Release

ACell, Inc. Announces Launch of Gentrix^® Incisional

ACell, Inc. announced the introduction of Gentrix Incisional, a new implantable device comprised of the company’s proprietary MatriStem UBM^™ technology, designed to reinforce soft tissue in surgical site incisions. [ACell, Inc.] Press Release

Dutch Universities, Journal Publishers Agree on Open-Access Deals

Despite some difficult negotiations, academic institutions in the Netherlands have been securing subscriptions that combine publishing and reading into one fee. [The Scientist] Editorial

A Final Dash across the United States: Updates from the 2018 March for Science

The March for Science celebrated its anniversary. And although the turnout around the world was significantly smaller than last year, supporters haven’t lost any of their energy. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

African Scientists Call for More Control of Their Continent’s Genomic Data

Africa-based researchers issued guidelines for the ethical handling of samples for genomic studies. The voluntary rules are an effort to combat ‘helicopter’ research, in which foreign scientists take samples and data from communities and then return to their home institutions. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Novel Aspects of Bone Biology
June 13-16, 2018
Snowbird, Utah, United States

NEW The 3^rd Conference on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (CTERM 2019)
January 5-7, 2019
Xiamen, China

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

NEW PhD Student and Postdoctoral Position – Bioactive Materials (Max Planck for Molecular Biomedicine)

Professor – Tumor Stromal Biology (University of Glasgow)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Wound Signaling (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Assistant Professor – Regenerative Medicine (University of California, San Diego)

Faculty Position – Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Seattle Children’s Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Regenerative Medicine (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Positions – Bioengineering (George Washington University)

Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Associate – Biomedical Engineering (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Position – Spinal Cord Injury (Nanyang Technological University)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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