Volume 7.15 | Apr 21 - Extracellular Matrix News

Extracellular Matrix News 7.15 April 21, 2016

TOP STORY

When Paired with Implanted Scaffolds, Immune Cells Linked to Allergies Can Heal Muscle
Immune system cells linked to allergies also turn out to direct healing of mouse muscle wounds when paired with biologic “scaffolding” to support them. [Press release from The Johns Hopkins University discussing publication in Science] Press Release | Abstract

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PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Genipin Cross-Linked Decellularized Tracheal Tubular Matrix for Tracheal Tissue Engineering Applications
Scientists investigated the mechanical, pro-angiogenic and in vivo biocompatibility properties of decellularized airway matrices cross-linked with genipin. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Bioprinting Three-Dimensional Cell-Laden Tissue Constructs with Controllable Degradation
Researchers report a novel study of the 3D printing of human corneal epithelial cells/collagen/gelatin/alginate hydrogel incubated with a medium containing sodium citrate to obtain degradation-controllable cell-laden tissue constructs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Fluid Shear Stress Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Hep-2 Cells
Researchers examined the time-expressions of signaling cascades, and demonstrated that fluid shear stress induces the EMT and enhances cell migration depending on integrin-ILK/PI3K-AKT-Snail signaling events. [Oncotarget] Full Article

CRISPR/Cas9 Knockout of HAS2 in Rat Chondrosarcoma Chondrocytes Demonstrates the Requirement of Hyaluronan for Aggrecan Retention
Using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing approach, a model system was developed by generating hyaluronan (HA)-deficient chondrocyte cell lines. The results suggest that HA is essential for aggrecan retention and maintaining cell separation during tissue formation. [Matrix Biol] Abstract

Gene Delivery of TGF-β3 and BMP2 in a MSC Laden Alginate Hydrogel for Articular Cartilage and Endochondral Bone Tissue Engineering
Researchers developed gene-activated alginate hydrogels capable of supporting nanohydroxyapatite-mediated non-viral gene transfer to control the phenotype of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for either cartilage or endochondral bone tissue engineering. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Spaceflight Activates Lipotoxic Pathways in Mouse Liver
Scientists investigated altered hepatic lipid metabolism in mice following short duration spaceflight. Although the 13-day flight duration was too short for frank fibrosis to develop, retinol loss plus changes in markers of extracellular matrix remodeling raised the concern that longer duration exposure to the space environment may result in progressive liver damage, increasing the risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

Screening for and Validation of a Hepatic Fibrosis-Related Pathway Induced by Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-Related Protein 1
Scientists investigated the effect of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBPrP1) on gene expression in the hepatic fibrosis-related pathway. IGFBPrP1-overexpressing rats showed an increase in α-smooth muscle actin expression and collagen and hydroxyproline content in the liver. [Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract

Collagen/Gold Nanoparticle Nanocomposites: A Potential Skin Wound Healing Biomaterial
Nanocomposite collagen scaffolds incorporating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared for wound healing applications. Upon confirming in vitro biocompatibility of the scaffolds with cytotoxicity assays, cell attachment and proliferation tests and the in vivo efficacy for healing of full-thickness skin wounds were investigated by applying collagen sponges and AuNP-incorporated nanocomposites cross-linked with glutaraldehyde or a commercial product onto defect sites and covering with Ioban® drapes. [J Biomater Appl] Abstract

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REVIEWS

What Are They Waiting For? − Tethered Agonism in G Protein-Coupled Receptors
The authors summarize and discuss the specifics of tethered agonist pharmacology which add a number of new features of the already broad signaling abilities of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and may find useful applications in designer GPCRs. [Pharmacol Res] Abstract

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

INDUSTRY NEWS

Pluristem Continues to Strengthen Its Position in Japan – Granted Two Key Cell Therapy Patents
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced that the Japan Patent Office has granted the company two key patents addressing Pluristem’s core technology of three-dimensional (3D) expansion methods for producing therapeutic cell products derived from placental or fat cells and the use of placenta-derived cells grown with this 3D technology to treat disorders of the hematopoietic system. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Researcher Receives NIH Grant to Continue Development of New Therapeutic Agents for Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer and Sepsis
A leading scientist at Florida Atlantic University has received $540,250 from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue his groundbreaking research to develop new therapeutic agents for collagen-based diseases including multiple sclerosis, cancer and sepsis. [Florida Atlantic University (Newswise, Inc.)] Press Release

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POLICY NEWS

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

EVENTS

NEW Nordic Life Science Days 2016
September 14-15, 2016
Stockholm, Sweden

NEW CELLS | Musculoskeletal 2016
October 7-9, 2016
Amsterdam, Netherlands

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NEW PhD Positions – Modern Biology (Vienna Biocenter)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology/Immunology (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Group Leader Positions – Stem Cell Biology, Pancreatic Cancer and Bioengineering (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic and Leukemic Stem Cells (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cervical Extracellular Matrix (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

Engineering Project Lead (Cytonome)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanoregulation of Fibrosis and Vascular Injury (St. Michael’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering (Northwestern University)

Postdoctoral Position – Non-Viral Gene Delivery & Scaffold Design (Nanyang Technological University)

Professor – Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (Nanyang Technological University)

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