Intestinal Cell News Volume 5.32 | Aug 30 2019

TOP STORY

Distinct Methylation Levels of Mature MicroRNAs in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Researchers showed that a fraction of mature miRNAs including miR-17-5p, -21-5p, and -200c-3p and let-7a-5p harbored methyl marks that potentially altered their stability and target recognition. Importantly, methylation of these miRNAs was significantly increased in cancer tissues as compared to paired normal tissues. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Intestinal Epithelial PKM2 Serves as a Safeguard against Experimental Colitis via Activating β-Catenin Signaling

Gene profiling, western blot, and function analyses indicated that cell survival signals, particularly the Wnt/β-catenin pathways, were associated with pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) activity. Increasing mouse intestinal epithelial PKM2 expression via delivery of a PKM2-expressing plasmid attenuated experimental colitis. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Activating CCT2 Triggers Gli-1 Activation during Hypoxic Condition in Colorectal Cancer

Investigators confirmed that hypoxia activates the Hedgehog pathway in colorectal cancer, considering its role in cancer epithelial to mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion. The activity of hypoxia-mediated Gli-1, a Hedgehog signaling factor in hypoxia, was confirmed by in vitro western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, wound-healing assay, and matrigel invasion assay, as well as by in vivo xenograft models. [Oncogene] Abstract

Long Non-Coding RNA LINC01225 Promotes Proliferation, Invasion and Migration of Gastric Cancer via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Analysis with clinicopathological information suggested that up-regulation of LINC01225 was associated with advanced disease and poorer overall survival. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that plasma LINC01225 had a moderate accuracy for diagnosis of gastric cancer. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

OrgaQuant: Human Intestinal Organoid Localization and Quantification Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

The authors describe OrgaQuant, a deep convolutional neural network implementation that can locate and quantify the size distribution of human intestinal organoids in brightfield images. OrgaQuant is an end-to-end trained neural network that requires no parameter tweaking; thus, it can be fully automated to analyze thousands of images with no user intervention. [Sci Rep] Full Article

MicroRNA-598 Inhibits the Growth and Maintenance of Gastric Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Down-Regulating RRS1

The miR-598 expression was examined in the CD133⁺ and CD133^– cells. Subsequently, the CD133⁺ cells were subjected to miR-598 mimics, miR-598 inhibitors or RRS1 siRNA to validate the effect of miR-598 on gastric cancer stem-like cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis, migration and invasion capacities. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Discovery of Novel Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides from Todarodes pacificus and Their Inhibitory Mechanism: In Silico and In Vitro Studies

The authors showed the degree of hydrolysis theoretically achieved 56.8% when digested with papain, ficin, and prolyl endopeptidase , producing 126 angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides. By predicting the toxicity, allergenicity, gastrointestinal stability, and intestinal epithelial permeability, 30 peptides were finally screened, of which 21 had been reported and 9 were new. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Livin Promotes Colon Cancer Progression by Regulation of H2A.X^Y39ph via JMJD6

Scientists demonstrated that Livin induced a colon cancer phenotype, including proliferation and migration, by regulating histone family 2A variant (H2A.X)^Y39ph. They elucidated that Livin degraded Jumonji-C domain-containing 6 protein (JMJD6), which was mediated by the proteasome murine double minute 2, thereby regulating H2A.X^Y39ph. [Life Sci] Abstract

Platyphylloside Isolated from Betula platyphylla Is Antiproliferative and Induces Apoptosis in Colon Cancer and Leukemic Cells

Cytotoxicity assays in solid tumor and blood cancer cell models demonstrated that platyphylloside (BPP) possesses potent antiproliferative activity. The level of apoptosis increased with BPP treatment, causing cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase along with the downregulation of IκBα phosphorylation and BCL-2, as well as upregulation of cleaved caspase 3 and BAX proteins. [Molecules] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Characterization of In Vitro Mrp2 Transporter Model Based on Intestinal Organoids

A new method for rapid and sensitive detection of multidrug resistance associated protein 2 (Mrp2) function was established via using mouse small intestinal organoids. Firstly, small intestinal crypts isolated from mouse intestine were induced by Noggin, R-spondin1 and EGF to develop three-dimensional organoids. [Regul Toxicol Pharmacol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

OCT4B1 Promoted EMT and Regulated the Self-Renewal of Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) in Colorectal Cancer: Effects Associated with the Balance of miR-8064/PLK1

Three-dimensional microspheres were confirmed as colorectal cancer stem cells. Compared with that of parental cells, their self-renewal ability was significantly increased, and OCT4B1 expression was increased and promoted the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process. [Mol Ther Oncolytics] Abstract

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Pulmonary Cell News & ESC & iPSC News.

Development and Evolution of Gut Structures: From Molecules to Function

The authors describe the main discoveries in gut and gut-associated structures development in echinoderm larvae and compare them with existing information in vertebrates. An impressive degree of conservation emerges when comparing the transcription factor toolkits recruited for gut cells and tissue differentiation in animals as diverse as echinoderms and vertebrates, thus suggesting that their function emerged in the deuterostome ancestor. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract

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

InDex Pharmaceuticals Meets Primary Endpoint in the Phase IIb Study CONDUCT with Cobitolimod in Ulcerative Colitis

InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB announced positive top line results from the dose optimization study CONDUCT, which is evaluating cobitolimod for the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. The study met the primary endpoint of clinical remission, demonstrating a superior efficacy of 15% in patients receiving the highest dose of cobitolimod compared to placebo. [InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB] Press Release

Saint Joseph Mercy Gets $19.3 Million Grant for Cancer Treatment

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System has received a $19.3-million grant to improve care and participate in advanced cancer treatment trials. The Michigan Cancer Research Consortium, led by St. Joseph Mercy, was one of 34 grant recipients in the National Cancer Institute’s Community Oncology Research Program, a national network focused on community-based cancer care, according to a release from the health system. [Saint Joseph Mercy Health System] Press Release

Dr. Caroline Lindemans explains her work on intestinal repair following injury in graft versus host disease. Listen Now

Foreign Interference under the Spotlight at Australian Universities

The Australian government says it will establish an expert committee to detect and respond to cyberattacks, intellectual-property theft and other strikes against universities by foreign governments or groups. The move comes amid growing concerns from some politicians and academics about foreign influence at Australian campuses. [Nature News] Editorial

University of Illinois Protected Harassers: Investigation

Multiple professors at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) who were credibly accused of sexual harassment have been put on paid administrative leave, allowed to leave the institution quietly, or both, ProPublica Illinois and NPR Illinois jointly reported August 27. Among them was Valarmathi Thiruvanamalai, a comparative biosciences faculty member who went on to a position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham after his resignation from UIUC. [The Scientist] Editorial

Younger Scientists Need Better Support

Letters from research funders to university leaders rarely raise eyebrows. But a letter sent this month by the heads of the United Kingdom’s three largest medical-research funders did just that. [Nature News] Editorial

FDA Warns Testing Companies: Don’t Tell Patients How Their DNA Influences Response to Specific Drugs

Amid a boom in genetic testing that aims to predict a person’s response to medication, the FDA has been quietly pressuring a handful of companies to stop reporting results to patients about how their genes may interact with specific drugs. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW NF-kB, JAK-STAT & MAPK in Health, Disease & Therapy
October 7-11, 2019
Suzhou, China

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Intestinal Graft-versus-Host-Disease (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Intestinal Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Senior Researcher – Inflammatory Diseases (Genentech, Inc.)

Research Assistant – Pathophysiology of Enteroviruses (University of Cambridge)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Microbiome in IBD (GIGA-Medical Genomics Unit)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Quantifying Intra-tumour Heteregeneity with Multi-Omics Data (The Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Designer Probiotics (Massacheusetts General Hospital)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Microbiota in Neonatal Immunity and Imprinting (Institut Pasteur)

Principal Researcher – Systems Disease Biology (Boehringer Ingelheim)

Research Lab Specialist – Tumor Microenvironment & Cell Behavior (University of Southern California)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Intestinal Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.