FOXO Transcription Factors Regulate Innate Immune Mechanisms in Respiratory Epithelial Cells Scientists showed that bacterial pathogens potently activate forkhead box transcription factor family O (FOXO) transcription factors in cultured human respiratory epithelial cells in vitro. Infection of mice with bacterial pathogens resulted in the activation of FOXO transcription factors in alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells in vivo. [J Immunol] Abstract Targeting Sphingosine Kinase 1 Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis Researchers showed that knockdown of sphingosine kinase (SphK)1 or treatment with SphK inhibitor attenuated sphingosine-1-phosphate generation and transforming growth factor β secretion in a bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis mouse model that was accompanied by reduced phosphorylation of Smad2 and MAPKs in lung tissue. [FASEB J] Abstract Alcohol Causes Alveolar Epithelial Oxidative Stress by Inhibiting the Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathway Scientists determined that alcohol ingestion in vivo or direct alcohol exposure in vitro down-regulated the Nrf2/ARE pathway in lung epithelial cells, decreased the expression of anti-oxidant genes, and lowered intracellular glutathione levels. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract Role of NOX Proteins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Induced Lung Inflammation and Permeability Researchers showed that P. aeruginosa lung infection up-regulates NADPH oxidase 2 and NADPH oxidase 4 expression, and reactive oxygen species generation, which play distinct roles in regulating lung inflammation, apoptosis and permeability. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract Role of β-Catenin-Regulated CCN Matricellular Proteins in Epithelial Repair after Inflammatory Lung Injury Scientists examined which β-catenin transcriptional coactivators and target genes promote epithelial repair after inflammatory injury. They concluded that β-catenin/p300-dependent expression of WISP1 and Cyr61 is critical for epithelial repair. [Am J Physiol-Lung C] Abstract Sustained Adenosine Exposure Causes Lung Endothelial Apoptosis: A Possible Contributor to Cigarette Smoke-Induced Endothelial Apoptosis and Lung Injury Investigators demonstrated that sustained adenosine exposure caused lung endothelial cell apoptosis via nucleoside transporter facilitated, not adenosine receptor mediated, intracellular adenosine uptake, subsequent activation of p38 and JNK in mitochondria, and ultimately mitochondrial defects and activation of mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. [Am J Physiol-Lung C] Abstract LUNG CANCER Id1 and Id3 Co-Expression Correlates with Clinical Outcome in Stage III-N2 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy Researchers report that Id1 and Id3 co-expression seems associated with a poor clinical outcome in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article AEG-1 Expression Characteristics in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Its Relationship with Apoptosis Investigators indicate that astrocyte-elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) played a crucial role in the carcinogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer and could inhibit apoptosis via activating cell survival signaling. [Med Oncol] Abstract Concomitant High Gene Copy Number and Protein Overexpression of IGF1R and EGFR Negatively Affect Disease-Free Survival of Surgically Resected Non-Small-Cell-Lung Cancer Patients Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation are essential to mediate tumor cell survival, proliferation, and invasion. This study investigated the prognostic role of IGF1R and EGFR in surgically resected non-small-cell-lung cancer. [Cancer Chemoth Pharm] Abstract A Non-Surgical Method for Induction of Lung Cancer in Wistar Rats Using a Combination of NNK and High Dietary Fats Investigators report the development of a novel rodent model by administering multiple doses of nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK) to male Wistar rats and feeding them with high-fat and low-protein diet. Tumor cells in lungs were observed in approximately 98% rats after 8 months of NNK treatment, as evident by histopathological analysis. [Protoplasma] Abstract |