IFNβ/TNFα Synergism Induces a Non-Canonical STAT2/IRF9-Dependent Pathway Triggering a Novel DUOX2 NADPH Oxidase-Mediated Airway Antiviral Response Investigators unveiled a novel delayed antiviral response in the airways, which is initiated by the synergistic autocrine/paracrine action of IFNβ and TNFα, and signals through a non-canonical STAT2- and IRF9-dependent, but STAT1-independent cascade. [Cell Res] Abstract Physico-Chemical Characterization of African Urban Aerosols (Bamako in Mali and Dakar in Senegal) and Their Toxic Effects in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells: Description of a Worrying Situation Researchers aimed to characterize the biological reactivity of urban African aerosols on human bronchial epithelial cells in relation to particulate matter’s physico-chemical properties to identify toxic sources. [Part Fibre Toxicol] Abstract | Full Article Trolox Contributes to Nrf2-Mediated Protection of Human and Murine Primary Alveolar Type II Cells from Injury by Cigarette Smoke Scientists studied the effect of oxidative stress generated by cigarette smoke (CS) both in vivo and in vitro on murine primary alveolar type II (ATII) cells isolated from nuclear erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)−/− mice. They found that ATII cells isolated from Nrf2−/− mice are more susceptible to CS-induced oxidative DNA damage mediated by p53/53BP1 both in vivo and in vitro compared with wild-type mice. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Macrophages Cytokines Repress Surfactant Protein B in Lung Epithelial Cells To investigate the mechanism of surfactant protein B (SFTPB) repression, the human pulmonary epithelial NCI-H441 and NCI-H820 cells and RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Whereas LPS did not decrease SFTPB transcripts in H441 or H820 cells, conditioned medium of LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells decreased SFTPB transcripts in H441 and H820 cells and inhibited SFTPB promoter activity in H441 cells. [Am J Resp Cell Mol] Abstract Non-Antibiotic Macrolides Prevent Human Neutrophil Elastase-Induced Mucus Stasis and Airway Surface Liquid Volume Depletion Since neutrophilia frequently occurs in chronic lung disease and human neutrophil elastase (HNE) induces mucus stasis by activating the epithelial sodium channel, researchers tested the ability of 2′-desoxy-9-(S)-erythromycylamine (GS-459755) to protect against HNE-induced mucus stasis. GS-459755 had no effect on HNE activity. However, GS-459755 pretreatment protected against HNE-induced airway surface liquid volume depletion in human bronchial epithelial cells. [Am J Physiol-Lung C] Abstract Jagged1 Is the Major Regulator of Notch-Dependent Cell Fate in Proximal Airways Scientists report that Jagged1 is expressed in a subset of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells, where it controls proximal airway cell fate and differentiation. In agreement with previous studies involving disruption of all Notch signaling, they found that deletion of Jagged1 in airway epithelium increased the number of ciliated cells at the expense of Clara cells, a phenotype associated with downregulation of Hes1. [Dev Dynam] Abstract LUNG CANCER Acquired Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors Is Associated with a Manifestation of Stem Cell-Like Properties in Cancer Cells Scientists investigated the molecular and cellular profiles of the acquired resistant cells to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor in EGFR mutant lung cancers. Four EGFR-mutant cell lines were exposed to gefitinib by stepwise escalation and high-concentration exposure methods, and resistant sublines to gefitinib were established. [Cancer Res] Full Article Lysine Acetyltransferase GCN5 Potentiates the Growth of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Promotion of E2F1, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1 Expression Researchers report that GCN5 is highly expressed in non-small cell lung cancer tissues and that its expression correlates with tumor size. They found that the expression of GCN5 promotes cell growth and the G1/S phase transition in multiple lung cancer cell lines. [J Biol Chem] Full Article DNA Methylation Profiles at Precancerous Stages Associated with Recurrence of Lung Adenocarcinoma Using single-CpG resolution Infinium array, genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed in 36 samples of normal lung tissue obtained from patients without any primary lung tumor, 145 samples of non-cancerous lung tissue obtained from patients with lung adenocarcinomas, and 145 samples of tumorous tissue. [PLoS One] Full Article Ionizing Radiation Potentiates Dihydroartemisinin-Induced Apoptosis of A549 Cells via a Caspase-8-Dependent Pathway Scientists explored the molecular mechanism by which dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and ionizing radiation induce apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. DHA treatment induced a concentration- and time-dependent reactive oxygen species-mediated cell death with typical apoptotic characteristics such as breakdown of mitochondrial membrane potential, caspases activation, DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine externalization. [PLoS One] Full Article |