Extracellular Matrix News Volume 9.19 | May 17 2018

TOP STORY

CD93 Promotes Integrin-β1 Activation and Fibronectin Fibrillogenesis during Tumor Angiogenesis

Researchers demonstrated that CD93 regulates integrin-β1-signaling and organization of fibronectin fibrillogenesis during tumor vascularization. In endothelial cells and mouse retina, CD93 was expressed in endothelial filopodia and promoted filopodia formation. [J Clin Invest] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Quantifying Compressive Forces between Living Cell Layers and within Tissues Using Elastic Round Microgels

The authors describe fluorescent nanoparticle-labeled, monodisperse elastic microspheres made of Arg-Gly-Asp-conjugated alginate hydrogels (elastic round microgels, ERMGs). They generated 3D displacements and calculated strains and tractions exerted on an ERMG. [Nat Commun] Abstract | Press Release

Biomimetic Soft Fibrous Hydrogels for Contractile and Pharmacologically Responsive Smooth Muscle

Scientists demonstrated that a biomimetic fibrous structure played a dominant role in smooth muscle function, while the presentation of adhesion proteins co-regulated it to various degrees. Specifically, fiber networks enabled cell infiltration and upregulated expression of actomyosin proteins in contrast to flat hydrogels. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Hyperglycemia Does Not Affect Tissue Repair Responses in Shear Stress-Induced Atherosclerotic Plaques in ApoE^−/− Mice

Investigators used a diabetic mouse model to characterize how hyperglycemia affects arterial repair responses. Hyperglycemia did not affect the size of the formed atherosclerotic plaques, and no effects were seen on activation of cell proliferation, smooth muscle cell content or on the expression and localization of collagen, elastin and several other extracellular matrix proteins. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Genetic Engineering of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Differential Matrix Deposition on 3DWoven Scaffold

Researchers developed a method to direct human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells to deposit either mineralized matrix or a cartilaginous matrix rich in glycosaminoglycan and type II collagen within the same biochemical environment. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

The Intranuclear PEX Domain of MMP Involves Proliferation, Migration, and Metastasis of Aggressive Adenocarcinoma Cells

Investigators examined gene expression signatures of colon adenocarcinoma cell lines with different metastatic potentials and found that rapidly metastatic cells powerfully expressed genes encoding matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)3 and MMP9. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Influence of Collagen-Based Integrin α₁ and α₂ Mediated Signaling on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteogenesis in Three Dimensional Contexts

Scientists employed two collagen‐mimetic proteins – Scl2‐2 and Scl2‐3 – to compare the osteogenic effects of integrin α₁ versus α₂ signaling. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were cultured within poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels containing either Scl2‐2 or Scl2‐3 for two weeks. PEG‐Scl2‐2 gels were associated with increased hMSC osterix expression, osteopontin production, and calcium deposition relative to PEG‐Scl2‐3 gels. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Importance of Extracellular Matrix and Growth State for the EA.hy926 Endothelial Cell Response to Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Researchers compared the viability and proliferation of EA.hy926 endothelial cells grown on Matrigel or collagen versus non-coated plates. They showed that only cells grown on Matrigel-coated plates reached quiescence after becoming confluent with a decreased level of MCM2 and p-cyclin D1, increased levels of p27kip1 and a low level of apoptosis and senescence. [PLoS One] Full Article

Human Neural Stem Cells Dispersed in Artificial ECM Form Cerebral Organoids When Grafted In Vivo

Scientists dispersed human neural stem cells in a three‐dimensional artificial extracellular matrix and compared their differentiation in vitro and following grafting into the sensorimotor cortex of postnatal day (P)14 rat pups lesioned by localized injection of endothelin‐1 at P12. [J Anat] Abstract

Bioengineering Strategies to Accelerate Stem Cell Therapeutics

Biomaterials with tuneable mechanical and biochemical properties can preserve stem cell function in culture, enhance survival of transplanted cells and guide tissue regeneration. Rapid progress with three-dimensional hydrogel culture platforms provides the opportunity to grow patient-specific organoids, and has led to the discovery of drugs that stimulate endogenous tissue-specific stem cells and enabled screens for drugs to treat disease. [Nature] Abstract

Assigning Matrix Metalloproteinase Roles in Ischemic Cardiac Remodeling

Researchers focus on how their understanding of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has evolved from a one-dimensional early focus on measuring MMP activity, monitoring MMP:inhibitor ratios, and evaluating one MMP-substrate pair to the current use of systems biology approaches to integrate the whole MMP repertoire of roles in the left ventricular response to myocardial infarction. [Nat Rev Cardiol] Abstract

Shaping Synapses by the Neural Extracellular Matrix

The authors outline the major mechanisms driving synaptogenesis by secreted extracellular scaffolding molecules, like thrombospondins, neuronal pentraxins and cerebellins, which respectively promote presynaptic, postsynaptic differentiation or both. They also outline the maturation of synapses via reelin and integrin ligands-mediated signaling and regulation of synaptic plasticity by ECM-dependent control of induction and consolidation of new synaptic configurations. [Front Neuroanat] Abstract

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

New Research Centers Created by Rosalind Franklin University

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science announced the formation of three new disease-based research centers focused respectively on genetic disorders, cancer cell biology, and proteomics and molecular therapeutics. [Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (PR Newswire Association, LLC.)] Press Release

£4M Bid to Find Therapies that Prompt Tissues to Repair

Stem cell scientists, tissue engineers and clinician scientists at Centre for Regenerative Medicine and elsewhere are to join forces to investigate methods of promoting tissue repair in the liver, lungs and joints. The £4 million project seeks to better understand the environment in which stem cells grow in the body, known as the niche. [Centre for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

Europe’s Open-Access Drive Escalates As University Stand-Offs Spread

Bold efforts to push academic publishing towards an open-access model are gaining steam. Negotiators from libraries and university consortia across Europe are sharing tactics on how to broker new kinds of contracts that could see more articles appear outside paywalls. [Nature News] Editorial

Huge Gender Disparity in Cancer Research Funding in U.K.

The analysis examined data on both public and philanthropic grants given to support cancer research in the U.K. Male PIs were awarded 69 percent of the grants, and their grants were on average 1.3 times as large as those given to women, so that they received 78 percent of the total money allocated. [The Scientist] Editorial

Patient Registries to Bolster Cell- and Gene-Therapy Clinical Trial Data

As the first personalized cell and gene therapies are approved from small clinical trials, researchers propose the creation of publicly accessible databases to pull together real-world results. [The Scientist] Editorial

NIH’s Plum Award for Young Scientists Skews Male, Agency’s Data Show

These prestigious grants aim to vault the most promising new Ph.D.s to independence by allowing them to bypass postdoctoral fellowships and start their own labs immediately, providing up to $250,000 annually for 5 years. But since the awards were launched by NIH Director Francis Collins in 2010, men have consistently won them in numbers exceeding their representation in the applicant pool. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 8^th Meeting of the European Club for Liver Cell Biology (ECLCB-8)
October 4-6, 2018
Bonn, Germany

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

NEW Full Professor – Biomedical Sciences (Dublin City University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells & Regenerative Biology (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Bioengineering (Harvard University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Matrix Biology and Reproduction (University of Texas Southwestern Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Molecular and Translational Cancer Biology (Thomas Jefferson University)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioengineering Cell Fate and Morphogenesis in Organoids (KU Leuven)

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 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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