Extracellular Matrix News Volume 9.37 | Sep 20 2018

TOP STORY

3-D Physiomimetic Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels Provide a Supportive Microenvironment for Rodent and Human Islet Culture

The authors sought to recapitulate the in vivo peri-islet niche using decellularized ECM hydrogels. Sourcing from porcine bladder, lung, and pancreas tissues, 3-D ECM hydrogels were generated, characterized, and validated using both rodent and human pancreatic islets. [Biomaterials] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Improved Recovery of Human Islets from Young Donor Pancreases Utilizing Increased Protease Dose to Collagenase for Digesting Peri-Islet Extracellular Matrix

Differences in extracellular matrix, and total collagen content between young donor pancreases and old donor pancreases led scientists to compare results from islet isolation using an increased collagenase combination or increased protease combination, to the standard enzyme combination in a “trisected” pancreas model to overcome donor-to-donor variability. [Am J Transplant] Abstract

Adipoinductive Effect of Extracellular Matrix Involves Cytoskeleton Changes and SIRT1 Activity in Adipose Tissue Stem/Stromal Cells

The authors investigated how adipose tissue ECM (atECM) guides adipose stromal/stem cells (ACSs)’ differentiation. atECM altered shape and cytoskeleton organization of ASCs without changing their proliferation, β-galactosidase activity and adhesion. [Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol] Abstract

CCN6-Mediated MMP-9 Activation Enhances Metastatic Potential of Human Chondrosarcoma

Researchers showed how WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein-3 (CCN6) promoted chondrosarcoma cell migration and invasion via matrix metallopeptidase-9 expression. These effects were abolished by pretreatment of chondrosarcoma cells with PI3K, Akt, mTOR, and NF-κB inhibitors or short interfering RNAs. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Microwave Treatment of the Cornea Leads to Localized Disruption of the Extracellular Matrix

The effects on the corneal extracellular matrix have not yet been evaluated, thus the authors assessed post-procedure ultrastructural changes in an in vivo rabbit model. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cell Shape Alteration during Adipogenesis Is Associated with Coordinated Matrix Cues

Researchers applied a proteomic approach using high‐resolution mass spectrometry of the proliferation, confluent fibroblasts and of adipocytes. During this process, they noted the reorganization of the cells’ ECM network microenvironment from fibrillary collagen types I, III and V to collagens IV and VI, which affected the cells niche. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Extracellular Matrix Collagen I Promotes the Tumor Progression of Residual Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Heat Treatment

Scientists investigated the importance of the ECM in modulating the progression of residual hepatocellular carcinoma after heat treatment. [BMC Cancer] Full Article

Substrate Accumulation and Extracellular Matrix Remodelling Promote Persistent Upper Airway Disease in Mucopolysaccharidosis Patients on Enzyme Replacement Therapy

Investigators characterized ECM and inflammatory alterations in adenotonsillar tissue samples from eight mucopolysaccharidosis patients. [PLoS One] Full Article

Extracellular Matrix Determines Biomechanical Properties of Chondrospheres during Their Maturation In Vitro

Researchers characterized chondrospheres in long-term in vitro culture conditions for morphometric changes, biomechanical integrity, and their fusion and spreading kinetics. [Cartilage] Abstract

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Challenges in Fabrication of Tissue-Engineered Cartilage with Correct Cellular Colonization and Extracellular Matrix Assembly

Bioprinting can, in principle, provide the tissue with correct cellularity and extracellular matrix content, although it is still an open question as to how the correct molecular interaction and structure of extracellular matrix could be achieved. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. Announces GrafixPL PRIME™ Launches October 1, 2018

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. announced that GrafixPL PRIME™, a human placental membrane that can be stored at ambient temperatures, launches for sale on October 1, 2018. [Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

FDA Accepts Asterias Biotherapeutics’ Request to Meet and Discuss Next Phase of Development for OPC1 Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Program

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced that the FDA has accepted its request to meet to discuss proposed next steps for the OPC1 clinical development program. [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

This Research Groups Seeks to Expose Weaknesses in Science—and They’ll Step on Some Toes If They Have To

Metaresearchers investigate how scientists operate, and how they can slip off the rails. Their main focus is questionable research practices, such as massaging data and selective reporting of statistical tests. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NIH Director Expresses Concern but Offers No New Policy on Sexual Harassment for Grantees

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins in Bethesda, Maryland, ended a monthslong silence on the topic of sexual harassment in biomedical research, announcing plans to beef up procedures in NIH’s own laboratories. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Huge Peer-Review Study Reveals Lack of Women and Non-Westerners

The study looked at all submissions made to the open-access title eLife from its launch in 2012 to 2017 — nearly 24,000 in total. It found that women worldwide, and researchers outside North America and Europe, were less likely to be peer reviewers, editors and last authors. [Nature News] Editorial

African and Asian Researchers Are Hampered by Visa Problems

Going to a conference? Good luck getting a visa. Researchers from Africa and Asia still encounter much greater obstacles in getting visas to visit other countries for work than do those from Europe or North America. They are also less likely to visit another country for research, according to a global survey of academics’ movements. [Nature News] Editorial

Denied ‘Life-Extending Opportunities’: Black Patients Are Being Left Out of Clinical Trials amid Wave of New Cancer Therapies

Reflecting the reluctance of the FDA to force drug makers to enroll more minority patients, and the failure of most manufacturers to do so voluntarily, stark underrepresentation of African-Americans is widespread in clinical trials for cancer drugs, even when the type of cancer disproportionately affects them. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW Matrix Biology Ireland 2018
November 21-23, 2018
Galway, Ireland

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

NEW Tenure Track Assistant Professor – Biochemistry and Life Sciences (University of Delaware)

Group Leader – Organoid Modelling of Disease (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Tenure-Track Faculty Position – Cell Signaling & ECM (University of Rochester)

Group Leader/Principal Investigator – In Vitro Vascular Systems (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Position – Extracellular Matrix Research (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Position – Cutaneous Wound Repair (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Cell Signaling & Extracellular Matrix Deposition (LSU Health Science Center)

Faculty Positions – Biomedical Research (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Assistant Professorship – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Keck School of Medicine of USC)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Heart Failure and Regenerative Medicine (University of Louisville)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cellular Mechanobiology (Washington University in St. Louis)

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