Pulmonary Cell News Volume 2.28 | Jul 18 2013

ATP Release and Ca²⁺ Signaling by Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells following Alternaria Aeroallergen Exposure
Pretreatment of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) with a cell permeable Ca²⁺ chelating compound (BAPTA-AM) significantly inhibited ATP release, indicating dependency on [Ca²⁺]_i. Alternaria-evoked ATP release exhibited a greater peak response and a slightly lower EC₅₀ value in cells obtained from asthmatic donors compared to normal control cells. [J Physiol] Abstract

Mitochondrial Proteomic Analysis of Human Host Cells Infected with H3N2 Swine Influenza Virus
Researchers analyzed the differential mitochondrial proteomes of H3N2 SIV-infected human lung A549 cells using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight analysis. In the comparative analysis, 24 altered proteins were identified in the mitochondria of H3N2 SIV-infected cells; these proteins were involved in cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, cellular movement, and post-translational modification. [J Proteomics] Abstract

Large Uptake of Titania and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in the Nucleus of Lung Epithelial Cells as Measured by Raman Imaging and Multivariate Classification
Raman imaging, a label-free technique that requires no extensive sample preparation, was combined with multivariate classification to quantify the spatial distribution of oxide nanoparticles inside living lung epithelial cells. Using multivariate classification of hyperspectral Raman data with partial least-squares discriminant analysis, scientists showed that a surprisingly large fraction of spectra, classified as belonging to the cell nucleus, show Raman bands associated with nanoparticles. [Biophys J] Abstract

The Role of Asbestos Morphology on Their Cellular Toxicity: An In Vitro 3D Raman/Rayleigh Imaging Study
Scientists developed a 3D Raman/optical imaging methodology in vitro to characterize both morphological and chemical parameters of cell/fiber interactions. They determined that lung cells could vesiculate amphiboles with length below 5 µm or could embed those not exceeding 15 µm in their fibrous extracellular matrix. [Anal Bioanal Chem] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

Airway Basal Cells of Healthy Smokers Express an Embryonic Stem Cell Signature Relevant to Lung Cancer
Scientists found that the human embryonic stem cell (hESC) signature is selectively induced in the airway basal stem/progenitor cell population of healthy smokers (BC-S), with a pattern similar to that activated in all major types of human lung cancer. They further identified a subset of 6 BC-S hESC genes, whose coherent overexpression in lung AdCa was associated with reduced lung function, poorer differentiation grade, more advanced tumor stage, remarkably shorter survival and higher frequency of TP53 mutations. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Dioxin and Estrogen Signaling in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells with Different AhR/ERa Phenotypes
Scientists examined dioxin and estrogen signaling crosstalk in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines that were engineered to exhibit different AhR/ERa phenotypes. Data showed that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin weakly antagonized estrogen-activated ERa activity in cells expressing abundant ERa but little AhR. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract

Expression and Clinical Role of Small Glutamine-Rich Tetratricopeptide Repeat (TPR)-Containing Protein Alpha (SGTA) as a Novel Cell Cycle Protein in NSCLC
Researchers determined whether SGTA could serve as a biomarker for stratification and prediction of prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They demonstrated that suppression of SGTA expression resulted in a significant decline of proliferation in A549 cells. [J Cancer Res Clin Oncol] Abstract

Expression and Significance of miRNA-21 and BTG2 in Lung Cancer
Scientists examined the impact of micro-ribonucleic acid-21 (miRNA-21) on biological characteristics of lung cancer cells, such as growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. miRNA-21 expression was significantly higher in lung cancer cell lines than that in normal human bronchial epithelial cells. The pattern of B cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) protein expression was exactly the opposite of miRNA-21 expression in lung cancer cells. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

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QIAGEN Receives FDA Approval for Therascreen® EGFR RGQ PCR Kit as a Companion Diagnostic for Lung Cancer Patients
QIAGEN N.V. announced it has received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the therascreen EGFR test as a companion diagnostic to guide the use of Boehringer Ingelheim’s new targeted therapy, GILOTRIFTM (afatinib), for treatment of metastatic NSCLC in patients whose tumors have certain EGFR gene mutations. [QIAGEN N.V.] Press Release

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)

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Principal Investigator – Oncology/Respiratory Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – ERK3 Kinase Signaling in Cancer Progression and Metastasis (Wright State University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Molecular Determinants of Resistance to Chemotherapy and Radiation (The Ohio State University – Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Translational Oncology (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

PhD Opportunity – Biofunctionalization of Liposomes for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery (University of East Anglia)

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