Pulmonary Cell News Volume 8.15 | Apr 25 2019

TOP STORY

AURKB as a Target in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Acquired Resistance to Anti-EGFR Therapy

Researchers showed that resistant cells without the p.T790M or other acquired mutations are sensitive to the Aurora B (AURKB) inhibitors barasertib and S49076. Phospho-histone H3 (pH3), a major product of AURKB, is increased in most resistant cells and treatment with AURKB inhibitors reduces the levels of pH3, triggering G1/S arrest and polyploidy. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Long Intergenic Non-Coding RNAs Regulate Human Lung Fibroblast Function: Implications for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

In non-stimulated cells, scientists observed reduced proliferation and inflammation but no difference in the fibrotic response of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis fibroblasts. These functional changes in non-stimulated cells were associated with changes in the expression of the histone marks, H3K4me1, H3K4me3 and H3K27ac indicating a possible involvement of epigenetics. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Amelioration of PM_2.5-Induced Lung Toxicity in Rats by Nutritional Supplementation with Fish Oil and Vitamin E

64 male Sprague Dawley rats were gavaged with phosphate buffered saline, corn oil, fish oil, or vitamin E, respectively, once a day for 21 consecutive days prior to intratracheal instillation of PM_2.5 every other day for a total of three times. Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were collected 24 hours after the last instillation of PM_2.5. Levels of total proteins, lactate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α, interleukin-1β, C-reactive protein, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-ɑ were analyzed for markers of cell injury and inflammation. [Respir Res] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

Lamin B1 Loss Promotes Lung Cancer Development and Metastasis by Epigenetic Derepression of RET

Scientists report that loss of lamin B1, a determinant of nuclear architecture, played a key role in lung cancer. They found that lamin B1 levels were reduced in lung cancer patients. Lamin B1 silencing in lung epithelial cells promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell migration, tumor growth, and metastasis. [J Exp Med] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The PAX6-ZEB2 Axis Promotes Metastasis and Cisplatin Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer through PI3K/AKT Signaling

The authors found that PAX6 expression levels were upregulated in human lung cancer tissues and correlated with poor clinical outcomes. PAX6 overexpression significantly promoted NSCLC epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis, whereas its knockdown inhibited these processes. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Circular RNA cMras Inhibits Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression via Modulating miR-567/PTPRG Regulatory Pathway

The role of cMras was examined both in vitro and in vivo. cMras expression in LUAD tissues was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Downstream targets of cMras were predicted by bioinformatics tools and confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation assay and luciferase assay. qRT-PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression of specific targets. [Cell Prolif] Full Article

Six2 Promotes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Stemness via Transcriptionally and Epigenetically Regulating E-Cadherin

Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis was used to examine the correlation between six2 expression and the survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR and Western blot were performed to detect six2 expression in clinical samples. Moreover, transwell migration, tumor spheroid formation and in vivo tumor formation assays were used to examine the effects of six2 on NSCLC cell progression. [Cell Prolif] Abstract

TPP1 OB-Fold Domain Protein Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Induces Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting Telomerase Recruitment to Telomeres in Human Lung Cancer Cells

The authors overexpressed the TPP1 OB domain (TPP1-OB) by lentivirus infection in lung cancer cells. Telomere length was examined by Southern blot analysis of terminal restriction fragments. The effects of TPP1-OB on cell proliferation, the cell cycle, apoptosis, chemosensitivity, and tumor growth were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. [J Cancer Res Clin Oncol] Abstract

Investigation of the Effect of P14 Promoter Aberrant Methylation on the Biological Function of Human Lung Cancer Cells

Researchers used nested methylation-specific PCR to detect the methylation status of the p14ARF promoter region in SPCA1 and BEAS2B cell lines. The experimental groups were treated with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine. Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, flow cytometry, and Cell Counting Kit 8 were used to detect the expression of p14ARF messenger RNA and protein in each group, apoptosis, and cell proliferation inhibition, respectively. [Thorac Cancer] Full Article

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Autophagy in Pulmonary Innate Immunity

The lung innate immune cells act as a crucial initial barrier against the continuous threat from pathogens. In this review, investigators summarize recent findings on the regulation of autophagy and its inter­action with innate immunity, focusing on the lung. [J Innate Immun] Full Article

The Human Lung Cell Atlas – A High-Resolution Reference Map of the Human Lung in Dealth and Disease

The Human Cell Atlas consortium aims to characterize all cells in the healthy human body, and has prioritized lung tissue as one of the flagship projects. The authors present the rationale, the approach and the expected impact of a Human Lung Cell Atlas. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract

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

Inventiva to Present New Results of Its YAP-TEAD Oncology Program

Inventiva announced that the abstract on the evaluation of its YAP-TEAD Protein-Protein Interaction inhibitors for treating Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma submitted to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has been accepted for a poster presentation. [Press release from Inventiva discussing research to be presented at AACR Special Conference on The Hippo Pathway: Signaling, Cancer, and Beyond, San Diego] Press Release

AIT Therapeutics to Demonstrate NO Generator and Delivery System

AIT Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the company will be will be exhibiting and demonstrating its Nitric Oxide Generator and Delivery System. [Press release from AIT Therapeutics, Inc. (GlobeNewswire, Inc.) discussing research to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting, Baltimore] Press Release

SK Biopharmaceuticals and twoXAR Sign Collaboration Agreement to Discover and Develop First-in-Class Treatments for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

SK Biopharmaceuticals and twoXAR, Inc. announced an agreement to discover and develop first-in-class therapeutics for non-small cell lung cancer. Under the agreement, twoXAR will use its AI discovery technology to identify a set of initial candidates with the potential to treat lung cancer through novel biological mechanisms of action. [SK Biopharmaceuticals] Press Release

HEALIOS K.K. Announces Enrollment of First Patient in Japan in the ONE-BRIDGE Study of MultiStem^® Treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Athersys, Inc. announced that its partner, HEALIOS K.K. has enrolled the first patient in its ONE-BRIDGE study in Japan, evaluating MultiStem^® cell therapy treatment of patients who suffer from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The clinical trial investigates the efficacy and safety of MultiStem therapy for patients with pneumonia-induced ARDS. [Athersys, Inc. (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Gritstone Oncology Announces Clinical Acceleration of “Off-The-Shelf” Personalized Neoantigen Immunotherapy Program (SLATE) Following FDA Feedback

Gritstone Oncology, Inc. announced that following feedback from the FDA the SLATE Phase I clinical study may be accelerated by up to six months from the company’s prior expectations by leveraging pre-clinical data generated for the original GRANITE Investigational New Drug application. [Gritstone Oncology, Inc.] Press Release

Veracyte Receives Regulatory Authorization to Offer Envisia Genomic Classifier for Patients in New York State

Veracyte, Inc. announced that it has received regulatory authorization from the New York State Department of Health to offer the Envisia™ Genomic Classifier for patients in the state effective immediately. The genomic test is the first commercially available test to help distinguish idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from other interstitial lung diseases, without the need for risky surgery. [Veracyte, Inc.] Press Release

Why Are Canada’s Scientists Getting Political?

Erratic funding for basic research, coupled with concerns that science has fallen down the priority list for politicians, has contributed to a shift in researchers’ attitudes to lobbying. [Nature News] Editorial

Elsevier and Norway Agree on New Open-Access Deal

After unsuccessful negotiations between a coalition of Norwegian organizations and the academic publisher Elsevier culminated in cancelled subscriptions earlier this year, the two have successfully established a new nationwide licensing agreement. [The Scientist] Editorial

Fearing No-Deal Brexit, European Funder Orders UK Researchers to Transfer Grants

The prospect of Brexit, the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, has loomed long and large over researchers, but the effects on funding, so far, have been speculative. Now, a European funding agency has made a pre-emptive strike in advance of Brexit, changing a policy that directly impacts grants in the United Kingdom. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Eastern Pulmonary Conference
July 12-15, 2019
Palm Beach, Flordia, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Studentship – Lung Adenocarcinoma Research (Max Delbrück Centrum for Molecular Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Machine Learning in Cancer Treatment (Institute of Cancer Research)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Bioinformatics of Chronic Respiratory Diseases (University of Technology Sydney)

Early Stage Researcher – Lung Organoid Culture (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pulmonary (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular & Lung Biology (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Regenerative Medicine for Lung Conditions (United Therapeutics)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Causes of Allergies and Asthma (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Position – Pulmonary/Lung Carcinogenesis Translational Research (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Lung Research (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (University of California, San Francisco)

Molecular Biologist (Entrinsic Health Solutions, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung Disease (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Associate Professor – Oncology (University of California, Davis)

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