Dermal Cell News Volume 6.11 | Mar 30 2020

TOP STORY

RNA Helicase DDX21 Mediates Nucleotide Stress Responses in Neural Crest and Melanoma Cells

At a molecular level, nucleotide depletion reduced the chromatin occupancy of DDX21 in human A375 melanoma cells. Nucleotide supplementation reversed the gene expression signature and DDX21 occupancy changes prompted by leflunomide. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

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DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Live Imaging of Alterations in Cellular Morphology and Organelles during Cornification Using an Epidermal Equivalent Model

Investigators visualized the cell shape and organelles of cornifying keratinocytes in a living human epidermal equivalent model. 3D time-lapse imaging with a two-photon microscope revealed that the granular cells did not simply flatten but first temporarily expanded in thickness just before flattening during cornification. [Sci Rep] Full Article

HPV16 E7-Impaired Keratinocyte Differentiation Leads to Tumorigenesis via Cell Cycle/pRb/Involucrin/Spectrin/Adducin Cascade

The authors discovered that codon usage of human papillomavirus (HPV)16 E7 gene played a key role in determining expression of E7 oncoprotein in all tested cells. HPV16 E7 significantly inhibited expression of pRb to impair keratinocyte differentiation and disrupted development of skin epidermis in mice. [Appl Microbiol Biotechnol] Abstract

Effects of Microwave-Assisted Opuntia humifusa Extract in Inhibiting the Impacts of Particulate Matter on Human Keratinocyte Skin Cell

Scientists found that microwave-assisted O. humifusa extract exhibited outstanding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in eliminating particulate matter’s effects, due to suppression of AhR degradation, reactive oxygen species production, and COX-2 and MMP-9 expression in HaCaT keratinocytes. [Antioxidants] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Download Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Nuclear DLC1 Exerts Oncogenic Function through Association with FOXK1 for Cooperative Activation of MMP9 Expression in Melanoma

Functional studies unveiled that deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) was both required and sufficient for melanoma growth and metastasis. These tumorigenic events were mediated by nuclear-localized DLC1 in a Rho GTPase-activating protein-independent manner. [Oncogene] Full Article

Intratumoral Gene Electrotransfer of Plasmid DNA Encoding shRNA against Melanoma Cell Adhesion Molecule Radiosensitizes Tumors by Antivascular Effects and Activation of an Immune Response

Radiotherapy was combined with the gene electrotransfer of plasmid encoding shRNA against melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) with dual action, which was a vascular-targeted effect mediated by the silencing of MCAM and an immunological effect mediated by the presence of plasmid DNA in the cytosol-activating DNA sensors. [Vaccines] Abstract

Identification of Small Molecule Enhancers of Immunotherapy for Melanoma

The authors developed a novel co-culture cell-based high throughput assay system to identify compounds that could potentially synergize or enhance adoptive cell transfer-based immunotherapy of melanoma. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Sulforaphane and Iberin Are Potent Epigenetic Modulators of Histone Acetylation and Methylation in Malignant Melanoma

Both sulforaphane and iberin were able to reduce cell viability, decrease total histone deacetylase activity and modulate the expression levels of various histone deacetylases as well as acetyl and methyl transferases thus modulating the acetylation and methylation status of specific lysine residues on histones 3 and 4 in malignant melanoma cells. [Eur J Nutr] Abstract

A Potential Role of RUNX2- RUNT Domain in Modulating the Expression of Genes Involved in Bone Metastases: An In Vitro Study with Melanoma Cells

Researchers showed that the expression levels of bone sialoprotein and osteopontin genes, which are involved in malignancy-induced hypercalcemia, were reduced in RUNT KO cells. [Cells] Full Article

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TERT and TERT Promoter in Melanocytic Neoplasms: Current Concepts in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Prognosis

The authors examine the roles of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and TERT‐promoter in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognostication of cutaneous melanoma. [J Cutan Pathol] Abstract

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US FDA Approves Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Expanded Indication of EUCRISA^® (Crisaborole) Ointment, 2%, in Children as Young as 3 Months of Age with Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis

Pfizer Inc. announced that the FDA has approved its sNDA for EUCRISA^® ointment, 2%, extending the lower age limit from 24 months down to 3 months in children with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. [Pfizer Inc.] Press Release

Spray-On Gene Therapy with RenovaCare SkinGun™ in New Study Underway at King’s College London

RenovaCare, Inc. announced that the company’s novel SkinGun™ is now being used to apply regenerative cells in a preclinical study of new gene therapies, underway at King’s College London. [RenovaCare, Inc.] Press Release

Universities Issue Hiring Freezes in Response to COVID-19

Numerous universities have made announcements about the suspension of hiring, including Miami University of Ohio, Wright State University, Villanova University, the University of Nevada, Reno, Indiana University, and the University of Auckland in New Zealand, which cites the travel ban affecting Chinese students as one of the main causes of its freeze. [The Scientist] Editorial

Researchers Are Tracking Another Epidemic, Too—of Misinformation

When five researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle, launched the new Center for an Informed Public back in December 2019, they had no idea what was coming. The center aims to study how misinformation propagates and use the findings to “promote an informed society, and strengthen democratic discourse.” Now, just a few months later, the coronavirus pandemic is generating a tidal wave of information—some of it accurate, some not so much—that has saturated social and traditional media. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate or Research Associate – DNA Damage (Washington State University)

PhD Student Position – Skin and Single-Cell Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Inflammation and Infection Associated Lung and Skin Carcinogenesis (NIH National Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Research (The Ohio State University)

Assistant Professor – Dermatology (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioinformatics or Statistical Genetics (University of California, San Francisco)

Faculty Positions – Dermatology (Columbia University)

Senior Research Scientist – Sarcoma (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (Kentsis Research Group)

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