Pulmonary Cell News Volume 8.18 | May 16 2019

TOP STORY

JNK^1/2 Represses Lkb¹-Deficiency-Induced Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression

Researchers report that JNK1/2 activities attenuated Lkb1-deficiency-driven lung squamous cell carcinoma initiation and progression through repressing ΔNp63 signaling. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

TET1 Contributes to Allergic Airway Inflammation and Regulates Interferon and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling Pathways in Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Transcriptomic analysis of lung RNA followed by pathway and protein network analysis showed that the IFN signaling pathway was significantly upregulated and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway was significantly downregulated in HDM-challenged Tet1^−/− mice. This transcriptional regulation of the IFN and AhR pathways by Tet1 was also present in human bronchial epithelial cells at base line and following HDM challenges. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Device for Measuring the In-Situ Response of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells to Airborne Environmental Agents

The authors introduced a novel Real-Time Examination of Cell Exposure system, which enabled direct in situ assessment of the functional responses of a cell culture during and following exposure to environmental agents. Included were cell morphology, migration, and specialized responses, such as ciliary beat frequency. [Sci Rep] Full Article

JNK Activation-Mediated Nuclear SIRT1 Protein Suppression Contributes to Silica Nanoparticle-Induced Pulmonary Damage via p53 Acetylation and Cytoplasmic Localisation

Silica nanoparticles were found to downregulate nuclear rather than cytosolic silent mating type information regulation 2-homolog 1 (SIRT1) protein levels in human bronchial epithelial cells. They did not affect SIRT1 gene expression but accelerated SIRT1 protein degradation via c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation (JNK). [Toxicology] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

M2 Macrophages Promote NSCLC Metastasis by Upregulating CRYAB

Researchers developed a microfluidic-based co-culture device to mimic the tumor microenvironment to assess tumor-associated macrophages effects on invasion and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results showed lung carcinoma cells could cause macrophages to show the M2 phenotype, and these M2 macrophages promoted lung cancer cell EMT and invasion. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

FAM83A and FAM83B as Prognostic Biomarkers and Potential New Therapeutic Targets in NSCLC

Gene expression of FAMily with sequence similarity 83 (FAM83) A and B was analyzed in a cohort of 362 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients using qPCR. Researchers further investigated relations in expression and their prognostic value. Functional assays in NSCLC cell lines were performed to evaluate FAM83A and B involvement in proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, migration, and the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway. [Cancers] Full Article

DNA-Functionalized Metal-Organic Framework: Cell Imaging, Targeting Drug Delivery and Photodynamic Therapy

DNA-functionalized nanoscale PCN-224 was established with the aptamer of A549 lung cancer cells. The aptamer was modified with carboxyl and fluorescein at the two terminals. When touching the A549 cells, DOX@PCN-224-DNA could trace tumor cells and presented good targeting therapy by the combination of chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. [Inorg Chem] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Oncogenic Effect of the Novel Fusion Gene VAPA-Rab31 in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Exogenous expression of vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein A (VAPA) fused to the C-terminal region of Ras-related protein 31 (VAPA-Rab31) in immortalized normal bronchial epithelial cells demonstrated the potential transforming effects of the fusion gene, including increased colony formation and cell proliferation in vitro. Also, enhanced tumorigenicity upon VAPA-Rab31 was confirmed in vivo using a mouse xenograft model. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Upregulated Circular RNA VANGL1 Contributes to Progression of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Through Inhibition of miR-195 and Activation of Bcl-2

Scientists aimed to clarify the expression profiles and biological functions of circular RNA circVANGL1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results showed that circVANGL1 was overexpressed in human NSCLC tissues and cell lines. circVANGL1 expression was closely associated with tumor size, TNM stage and overall survival of NSCLC patients. [Biosci Rep] Full Article

Lumichrome Inhibits Human Lung Cancer Cell Growth and Induces Apoptosis via a p53-Dependent Mechanism

Investigators showed that unlike riboflavin, lumichrome could suppress lung cancer cell growth and reduce survival in both normal and anchorage-independent conditions. In addition, lumichrome induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells via a p53-dependent mitochondrial mechanism with substantial selectivity, shown by its lesser toxicity to the normal primary dermal papilla cells. [Nutr Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cancer Stem Cell News & Human Immunology News.

Molecular Links Between COPD and Lung Cancer: New Targets for Drug Discovery?

The authors focus on the potential pathogenic molecular links between tobacco smoking-related COPD and lung cancer and the potential molecular targets for new drug development by understanding the common signaling pathways involved in COPD and lung cancer. [Expert Opin Ther Targets] Abstract

Mammalian Target of Rapamycin: Is It Relevant to COPD Pathogenesis or Treatment?

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, as rapamycin and/or its derivatives, restore corticosteroid sensitivity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from COPD patients, and overexpression of mTOR suppresses cigarette smoke-induced inflammation and emphysema, suggesting that induction of mTOR expression/activity might be useful to treat COPD. [Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis] Abstract

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

FLX Bio Highlights Preclinical Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma Data for FLX193

FLX Bio, Inc. announced researchers presented preclinical data for its lead inflammatory disease compound demonstrating the mechanism of action for FLX193 and its potential as an oral treatment for patients with allergic disease including atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma. [Press Release from FLX Bio, Inc. discussing research presented at the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting, Immunology 2019, San Diego] Press Release

resTORbio to Present RTB101 Phase IIb Clinical Trial Data

resTORbio, Inc. announced that it will present additional results from the Phase IIb trial evaluating RTB101, an oral, selective, and potent inhibitor of target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1), in an oral presentation entitled ‘Oral TORC1 Inhibitor Dactolisib Enhances Immune Function and Reduces the Incidence of Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Subjects with Asthma.’ [Press release from resTORbio, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference, Dallas] Press Release

Bellerophon to Present Additional Data from Cohort 1 of Ongoing Phase II/III Study of INOpulse^® for Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Interstitial Lung Disease

Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it would present a late-breaking abstract with additional data from cohort 1 of its ongoing Phase II/III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of INOpulse^® for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease as an oral presentation. [Press release from Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference, Dallas] Press Release

NanOlogy to Present Preclinical Lung Cancer Study Showing Inhaled NanoPac^® Resulted in Increased Tumor Regression and Immune Response

NanOlogy LLC announced that its abstract showing encouraging therapeutic effects from a preclinical pharmacology study on inhaled NanoPac^® for treatment of lung cancer has been accepted for presentation. [Press release from NanOlogy LLC discussing research to be presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference, Dallas] Press Release

Vaccinex Announces Poster Presentations

Vaccinex, Inc. announced that two posters on its lead monoclonal antibody candidate, pepinemab, will be presented. One poster is entitled ‘Preliminary Results From CLASSICAL-Lung, a Phase Ib/II Study of Pepinemab in Combination with Avelumab in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.’ [Press release Vaccinex, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release

G1 Therapeutics to Present Additional Trilaciclib Phase II Small Cell Lung Cancer Data

G1 Therapeutics, Inc. announced that additional findings from a Phase II clinical trial demonstrating the myelopreservation benefits of trilaciclib in 2nd/3rd-line small cell lung cancer patients will be featured as an oral presentation. [Press release G1 Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release

Roche’s Personalized Medicine Entrectinib Shrank Tumors Harbouring NTRK, ROS1 or ALK Gene Fusions in Children and Adolescents

Roche announced that data for entrectinib across different tumor types and patient populations will be presented, including results from a real world data study, evaluating time-to-treatment discontinuation and progression-free survival as endpoints for comparative efficacy analysis of clinical trials of entrectinib and crizotinib for the treatment of people with ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. [Press release from Roche discussing research to be presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release

Flatiron Health Announces Research to be Presented

Flatiron Health announced 16 abstracts accepted for presentation. The research, spanning multiple tumor types and areas of study, utilized Flatiron’s high-quality, real-world oncology datasets, including ‘Identification and Use of Treatment Options in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Comprehensive Genomic Profiling: A Real-World Study.’ [Press release from Flatiron Health (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research to be presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release

IO Biotech Initiates Global Phase II Portion of Clinical Trial for T-Win^® Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

IO Biotech announced the initiation of the Phase II portion of a global, open-label, randomized clinical trial studying the investigational candidate IO102 in combination with KEYTRUDA^® for the treatment of first-line patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. [IO Biotech] Press Release

UIC to Lead National COPD Clinical Trial

The University of Illinois at Chicago will lead a $14.6 million, multi-center research project to determine which of two drugs — azithromycin, an antibiotic, or roflumilast, an anti-inflammatory medication — is the most effective at treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [The University of Illinois] Press Release

Athersys Announces Fast Track Designation from FDA for MultiStem^® Program for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Athersys, Inc. announced that its clinical program evaluating MultiStem^® cell therapy for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome has received Fast Track designation from the FDA. [Athersys, Inc.] Press Release

ATS Foundation Announces Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease Research Awardee

The ATS Foundation announced that Shashi Kant, PhD, of Baylor Research Institute, has been awarded the ATS Foundation/Insmed Research Award in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease. The award will provide one year of support in the amount of $50,000 to help fund Dr. Kant’s research, ‘Novel Short Course Chemotherapy for Treatment of M. kansasii.’ [The ATS Foundation (The American Association for the Advancement of Science)] Press Release

Senate Panel Delays Good-Government Bill, Scolds HHS for ‘Moving the Goal Posts’

A Senate panel delayed action on a bipartisan bill to improve government transparency among advisory bodies in deference to concerns from the National Institutes of Health that the legislation would seriously disrupt the agency’s ability to review research proposals. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

To Meet the ‘Plan S’ Open-Access Mandate, Journals Mull Setting Papers Free at Publication

Plan S, the funder-backed scheme to require free online access to scientific literature, aims to shake up the subscription journals that have long dominated scholarly publishing. Now, some publishers are considering an approach they hope will both comply with the plan and maintain their subscription income: allowing authors to post manuscripts in public archives as soon as their papers are published. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Indonesia Tops Open-Access Publishing Charts

European funders have been leading a charge under ‘Plan S’ to make more of the scientific literature free to read. Yet the nations that publish the highest proportion of their research papers open access aren’t in Europe, according to a preliminary analysis shared with Nature. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 2019 Stem Cells, Cell Therapies, and Bioengineering in Lung Biology and Diseases Conference
July 15, 2019
Burlington, Vermont, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Respiratory and Ophthalmic Diseases (Queen’s University Belfast)

Scientist – Pulmonary (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell Biology of the Lung and Intestines (Standford School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Inflammation Suppression & Lung Disease (National University of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Professor – Basal Allergy and Immunology (Aarhus University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Redox Systems in Lung and Breast Cancer (The Held Laboratory)

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

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

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

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)

Associate Professor – Oncology (University of California, Davis)

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 Pulmonary Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.