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Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, degradation and glioma cell motility are critical aspects of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Despite being a rich source of potential biomarkers and targets for therapeutic advance, the dynamic changes occurring within the extracellular environment that are specific to GBM motility have yet to be fully resolved. The gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) increases glioma migration and invasion in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models. In this study, the upregulation of Cx43 in C6 glioma cells induced morphological changes and the secretion of proteins associated with cell motility. Demonstrating the selective engagement of ECM remodeling networks, secretome analysis revealed the near-binary increase of osteopontin and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), with gelatinase and NFF-3 assays confirming the proteolytic activities. Informatic analysis of interactome and secretome downstream of Cx43 identifies networks of glioma motility that appear to be synergistically engaged. The data presented here implicate ECM remodeling and matrikine signals downstream of Cx43/MMP3/osteopontin and ARK1B10 inhibition as possible avenues to inhibit GBM.

Standard treatment for extensive partial-thickness burns in the United States and in much of the world involves the application of topical antimicrobial agents and repetitive wound débridements and dressing changes. We evaluated a new biologic wound covering, TransCyte (Advanced Tissue Sciences, La Jolla, Calif, formerly marketed as Dermagraft-Transitional Covering), for the treatment of partial-thickness burns. This material is composed of human newborn fibroblasts which are then cultured on the nylon mesh of Biobrane (Dow B. Hickam, Inc, Sugarland, Tex); the thin silicone membrane bonded to the mesh provides a moisture vapor barrier for the wound. A prospective, randomized, comparison study of silver sulfadiazine and TransCyte was performed with the use of paired wound sites on 14 patients. Wounds treated with TransCyte healed more quickly (mean 11.14 days to 90% epithelialization vs 18.14 days, P = .002). A noncomparison evaluation was then done for an additional 18 patients, and it confirmed excellent wound healing and an absence of infections. There were no infections in the 32 wound sites treated with TransCyte. In the first study group, late wound evaluations (3, 6, and 12 months postburn) were performed with use of the Vancouver Scar Scale. The results indicated that wound sites treated with TransCyte healed with less hypertrophic scarring than sites treated with silver sulfadiazine (P < .001 at 3 and 6 months, P = .006 at 12 months).