Dermal Cell News Volume 1.07 | Jun 29 2015

The Androgen Receptor Antagonizes Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Epidermal Stem Cells
The authors demonstrated that during epidermal development and homeostasis there is reciprocal activation of the androgen receptor and β-catenin in cells of the hair follicle bulb. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract | Full Article

Establishing Correlations in the En-Mass Migration of Dermal Fibroblasts on Oriented Fibrillar Scaffolds
Investigators developed a technique for preparation of three dimensional fibrillar scaffolds where the fiber diameters and the angles between adjacent fiber layers could be precisely controlled. Using the agarose droplet method, they were able to make accurate determinations of the dependence of the migration speed, focal adhesion distribution, and nuclear deformation on the fiber diameter, fiber spacing, and angle between adjacent fiber layers. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Provide Considerable Advantages in Epidermal Regeneration: B7H4 Creates a Moderate Inflammation Microenvironment to Promote Wound Repair
Researchers examined the advantages of using human amniotic fluid stem (hAFS) cells in skin wound healing. In vitro, hAFS cells differentiate into keratinocytes. During wound repair, hAFS cells did not directly secrete repair-related factors, such as bFGF, VEGF, CXCL12, TGF-β1 and KGF, and provided a moderate inflammation reaction with lower expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, Cox2 and Mac3. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Sox9 Controls Self-Renewal of Oncogene Targeted Cells and Links Tumor Initiation and Invasion
Using a genetic mouse model of basal cell carcinoma, scientists showed that Sox9 is expressed from the earliest step of tumor formation in a Wnt/β-catenin-dependent manner. [Cell Stem Cell]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Aquaporin-3-Mediated Hydrogen Peroxide Transport Is Required for NF-κB Signaling in Keratinocytes and Development of Psoriasis
Researchers showed that hydrogen peroxide, imported via aquaporin 3 (AQP3), was involved in nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling in keratinocytes and in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. [Nat Commun] Abstract

Targeting Melanoma with NT157 by Blocking Stat3 and IGF1R Signaling
The authors showed that NT157 targets not only IGF1R-IRS1/2, as previously reported, but also the Stat3 signaling pathway and demonstrated remarkable anti-cancer characteristics in A375 human melanoma cells and in a metastatic melanoma model in mice. [Oncogene] Abstract

CCN1, a Pro-Inflammatory Factor, Aggravates Psoriasis Skin Lesions by Promoting Keratinocyte Activation
Scientists demonstrated that CCN1 is highly expressed in the lesional skin of psoriasis patients, as well as that of imiquimod- and IL-23-treated psoriasis-like mice. They showed that blocking CCN1 function in vivo attenuated epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation in psoriasis-like mice. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Ingenol Mebutate Signals via PKC/MEK/ERK in Keratinocytes and Induces Interleukin Decoy Receptors IL1R2 and IL13RA2
Researchers elucidated direct effects of ingenol mebutate (IM) on primary keratinocytes, patient-derived squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells and a SCC cell line. Transcriptional profiling followed by pathway analysis was performed on IM-treated primary keratinocytes and patient-derived SCC cells to find key mediators and identify the mechanism of action. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

In Vivo Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry: Localization of Fluorescently Labeled Cetuximab in Squamous Cell Carcinomas
In this study of a systemically administered near-infrared fluorescently labeled therapeutic antibody, cetuximab-IRDye800CW, scientists showed that by optical molecular imaging they were able to evaluate localization of fluorescently labeled cetuximab. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Caladrius Biosciences Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase III Immunotherapy Trial for Melanoma
Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. announced the dosing of the first patient in the Intus Phase III clinical trial. The Intus trial is investigating the efficacy of the Company’s patient-specific targeted cancer immunotherapy candidate CLBS20. The trial is studying CLBS20 in patients with stage III recurrent or stage IV metastatic melanoma. [Caladrius Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Ontario Invests in Better Health and Economic Opportunity through Support for Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine
A new $25 million commitment positions Ontario to be an early adopter of new treatments and technologies emerging from research and commercial developments in regenerative medicine. [Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

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NEW Scientific Writer – Regenerative Medicine (University of Washington)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Dermatology Research (Boston University)

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)

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