Dermal Cell News Volume 1.06 | Jun 22 2015

The Matricellular Protein CCN1 Mediates Neutrophil Efferocytosis in Cutaneous Wound Healing
Scientists uncovered a key role for CCN1 in neutrophil efferocytosis by acting as a bridging molecule that binds phosphatidylserine, the ‘eat-me’ signal on apoptotic cells and integrins αvβ3/αvβ5 in macrophages to trigger efferocytosis. [Nat Commun] Abstract

Poised Regeneration of Zebrafish Melanocytes Involves Direct Differentiation and Concurrent Replenishment of Tissue-Resident Progenitor Cells
Researchers identified tissue-resident progenitor cells that mediated regeneration of zebrafish stripe melanocytes and defined how these cells reconstitute pigmentation. Nearly all regeneration melanocytes arose through direct differentiation of progenitor cells. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Taranis Protects Regenerating Tissue from Fate Changes Induced by the Wound Response in Drosophila
The authors identified a gene, taranis, that was essential for maintaining proper cell fate in damaged and regenerating Drosophila wing imaginal discs but that was dispensable for these fates in normal wing development. [Dev Cell] Abstract

Ultrasonic Stimulation of Mouse Skin Reverses the Healing Delays in Diabetes and Aging by Activation of Rac1
Researchers discovered that mechanical stimulation of skin with ultrasound could overturn healing defects by activating a calcium/CamKinaseII/Tiam1/Rac1 pathway that substituted for fibronectin-dependent signaling and promoted fibroblast migration. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Wnt and Notch Signaling Pathway Involved in Wound Healing by Targeting Separately C-Myc and Hes1
Investigators showed that in vivo the gain-of-function Wnt/β-catenin and Notch activation extended the ability to promote wound closure. They also determined that activation or inhibition of Wnt signaling and Notch signaling could affect the proliferation of ESCs, the differentiation and migration of keratinocytes and follicles regeneration by targeting c-Myc and Hes1, which ultimately led to enhanced or delayed wound healing. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Radiation Quality-Dependence of Bystander Effect in Unirradiated Fibroblasts Is Associated with TGF-β1-Smad2 Pathway and miR-21 in Irradiated Keratinocytes
Using a transwell co-culture system, investigators found that HaCaT keratinocytes irradiated with α-particles but not X-rays could induce bystander micronucleus formation in unirradiated WS1 fibroblasts after co-culture. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Monitoring Response to Therapy in Melanoma by Quantifying Circulating Tumor DNA with Droplet Digital PCR for BRAF and NRAS Mutations
The authors assessed the utility of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to evaluate the potential of using circulating tumor DNA as a post therapy monitoring tool in melanoma by comparing it to serum LDH levels and RECIST scores. ddPCR was shown to be reliable in distinguishing mutant from wild type alleles with no false positives. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Disruption of Proline Synthesis in Melanoma Inhibits Protein Production Mediated by the GCN2 Pathway
Investigators undertook an RNA interference screen of a kinase library and identified aldehyde dehydrogenase 18 family, member A1 as a critically important gene in regulating melanoma cell growth through proline biosynthesis. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus Phenol Soluble Modulins Stimulate the Release of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines from Keratinocytes and Are Required for Induction of Skin Inflammation
Scientists utilized primary keratinocyte culture and an epidermal murine colonization model to investigate the role of S. aureus phenol soluble modulins on pro-inflammatory cytokine release and inflammation induction. [Infect Immun] Abstract

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Connecticut Innovations’ Regenerative Medicine Research Fund Awards $11 Million for Scientific Research
BioInnovation Connecticut announced that the Regenerative Medicine Research Fund has awarded $11 million to scientists who are conducting biomedical, embryonic or human adult stem cell research. [Mayo Clinic] Press Release

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Research Associate – Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Ocular Melanoma (Ohio State University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Computational Biology and Bioinformatics in Melanoma (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Assistant Professor – Dermatology (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Niche Function (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Professor – Dermatology (University of Wisconsin – Madison)

Chair of the Department of Dermatology (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Positions – Molecular Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

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