Dermal Cell News Volume 5.10 | Mar 25 2019

TOP STORY

Treg-Cell Control of a CXCL5-IL-17 Inflammatory Axis Promotes Hair-Follicle-Stem-Cell Differentiation during Skin-Barrier Repair

Researchers used a stem cells fate-mapping approach to examine the contribution of regulatory T (Treg) cells to epidermal-barrier repair after injury. Depletion of Treg cells impaired skin-barrier regeneration and was associated with a Th17 inflammatory response and failed hair-follicle stem cells differentiation. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Instructive Role of Melanocytes during Pigment Pattern Formation of the Avian Skin

Scientists observed that developing melanocytes directly connected with each other via filopodia to form a network in culture and in vivo. This melanocyte network was reminiscent of zebrafish pigment cell networks, where connexin was implicated in stripe formation via genetic studies. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Keratinocyte Differentiation Promotes ER Stress-Dependent Lysosome Biogenesis

By using primary neonatal human epidermal keratinocytes, investigators identified the molecular link between signaling pathways and cellular differentiation/lysosome biogenesis. Incubation of keratinocytes with CaCl₂ induced differentiation with increased cell size and early differentiation markers. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Direct Reprogramming of Epidermal Cells toward Sweat Gland-Like Cells by Defined Factors

The authors showed that overexpression of the transcription factor FoxC1 was sufficient to reprogram epidermal cells to induced functional sweat gland-like cells (iSGCs). The iSGCs expressing secreting-related genes had a global gene expression profile between fetal SGCs and adult SGCs. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

PTPN14 Degradation by High-Risk Human Papillomavirus E7 Limits Keratinocyte Differentiation and Contributes to HPV-Mediated Oncogenesis

Using a human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E7 variant that could inactivate retinoblastoma tumor suppressor but could not degrade PTPN14, investigators found that high-risk HPV E7-mediated PTPN14 degradation impairs keratinocyte differentiation. Deletion of PTPN14 from primary human keratinocytes decreased keratinocyte differentiation gene expression. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-6 Inhibits Fibrogenesis in Scleroderma Offering New Treatment Options of Fibrotic Skin Disease

The authors detected that bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP6) was significantly increased in skin-derived fibroblasts of patients with localized scleroderma. Moreover, it was shown that BMP6 significantly impacted proliferation, migration, cytoskeletal organization, and collagen expression as well as activity of the major pro-fibrogenic transcription factor AP-1 in dermal fibroblasts. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Loss of Epidermal Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Blocks UVB-Induced Tumorigenesis by Affecting DNA Repair Capacity and Oxidative Stress

Researchers found that the absence of oncogenic transformation in hypoxia-inducible factor-1α-ablated mice was related to increased DNA repair in keratinocytes, while the formation of hyperkeratotic plaques was caused by an increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Quantitative Proteomics Links the Intermediate Filament Nestin to Resistance to Targeted BRAF Inhibition in Melanoma Cells

Among down-regulated proteins in vemurafenib-resistant cell lines, investigators detected multiple proteins involved in cytoskeletal organization and signaling, including the intermediate filament nestin, which was one of the most down-regulated proteins. [Mol Cell Proteomics] Abstract | Full Article

Characterisation of Resistance Mechanisms Developed by Basal Cell Carcinoma Cells in Response to Repeated Cycles of Photodynamic Therapy

Resistant cells expressing the p53 gene presented a lower proliferation rate and increased expression levels of N-cadherin and Gsk3β than parental cells. In contrast, 10^thG cells lacking the p53 gene showed lower levels of expression of Gsk3β in the cytoplasm and of E-cadherin and β-catenin in the membrane. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Amorphous Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles Modulate Immune Responses in a Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis

While scientists observed only minimal effects of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiNPs) on healthy mouse skin, there was an immunomodulatory effect of these NPs in a model of allergic contact dermatitis. The effect appeared to be mediated partly by keratinocytes and resulted in decreases in epidermal hyperplasia, inflammatory cytokine release, immune cell infiltration, and a subsequent reduction in skin swelling. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Choreographing Immunity in the Skin Epithelial Barrier

The authors discuss the context-specific signals that drive productive immune responses in the skin epithelium, highlighting key modulators of these reactions, including hair follicles, neurons, and commensal microbes. They also discuss the non-canonical functions of cutaneous immune cells, including their burgeoning role in epithelial regeneration and repair. [Immunity] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the dermal cell research field.

DURECT Announces Patient Dosing in Phase IIa Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial of Topical DUR-928 in Patients with Mild to Moderate Plaque Psoriasis

DURECT Corporation announced it has commenced patient dosing in a Phase IIa proof-of-concept trial with topical DUR-928 in patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. [DURECT Corporation] Press Release

MatriSys Bioscience Announces Successful FDA Pre-IND Review and Phase II Plans for MSB-01, a Revolutionary Human-Microbiome Based Treatment for Atopic Dermatitis

MatriSys Bioscience, Inc. announced it has successfully completed a pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) review with the FDA. The FDA provided positive feedback regarding the planned initiation of clinical trials for MSB-01 under a US IND for MatriSys’ lead microbiome-based candidate, MSB-01, for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. [MatriSys Bioscience, Inc. (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Biofrontera Reports Positive Phase III Results with Ameluz^® for Photodynamic Therapy of Actinic Keratoses on the Extremities and Trunk/Neck

Biofrontera AG received positive preliminary results for the primary endpoint of its Phase III clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of conventional photodynamic therapy with Ameluz^® and the BF-RhodoLED^® lamp for the treatment of actinic keratoses on the extremities as well as the trunk and neck. [Biofrontera AG (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals’ Cannabinoid-Derived Drug Candidate, EHP-101, Shows a Unique Mechanism of Action in Systemic Sclerosis Model, Indicating Key Differences Compared to Ajulemic Acid

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EHP) announced that newly published scientific data supports the potential of EHP’s lead orally-administered drug candidate, EHP-101, to treat systemic sclerosis. a severe form of scleroderma. [Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

City of Hope Awarded $7.5 Million to Develop Better Treatment for a Rare, Incurable Cancer

City of Hope recently received $7.5 million in grant awards to study a rare type of blood cancer that affects the skin: cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). The National Cancer Institute awarded two grants valued at $6.3 million over five years to City of Hope’s Steven Rosen, MD, and Christiane Querfeld, MD, PhD, so that they can develop improved therapies for CTCL. [City of Hope] Press Release

Scientists Among Thousands Marching to Demand Say on Brexit

Scientists took to the streets of London on 23 March as part of a major demonstration calling for the terms of Brexit to be put to the British people in a vote. [Nature News] Editorial

Chinese-American Scientist Societies Fear Racial Profiling

In a strongly worded letter published in Science, a group of Chinese-American scientists voiced concern that recent proposals from the National Institutes of Health and FBI actions could lead to unjust targeting of ethnically Chinese scientists. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 5^th CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference
September 25-28, 2019
Paris, France

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Immune-Epidermal Cell Stress Response (Queen Mary University of London)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immune Cell-Mediated Regulation (Hospital for Special Surgery)

NEW Junior Faculty and Postdoctoral Positions – Epigenetic Regulation (Henry Ford Health System)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Skin Biology (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Director – Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Molecular Oncology (University of Manchester)

Research Assistant – Burn Research (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Tumor Immunology and Cancer Metabolism (Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Wound Healing (University of California, Davis)

PhD Position – Epidermal Tissue Mechanics (Forschungszentrum Jülich)

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