Dermal Cell News Volume 1.20 | Oct 19 2015

Towards Autotrophic Tissue Engineering: Photosynthetic Gene Therapy for Regeneration
Investigators demonstrated the safety and efficacy of photosynthetic biomaterials in vivo after engraftment in a fully immunocompetent mouse skin defect model. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Gab1 and Mapk Signaling Are Essential in the Hair Cycle and Hair Follicle Stem Cell Quiescence
Investigators produced conditional Gab1 mutant mice (by K14- and Krox20-cre) and showed that Gab1 mediates crucial signals in the control of both the hair cycle and the self-renewal of hair follicle stem cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Keratin Isotypes Control Desmosome Stability and Dynamics through PKCα
Researchers investigated the respective contribution of K5/K14 or K6/K17 to desmosome adhesion, upon their stable re-expression in keratinocytes lacking all keratins. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Matrix Metalloproteinase 10 Degradomics in Keratinocytes and Epidermal Tissue Identifies Bioactive Substrates with Pleiotropic Functions
Scientists sampled the epidermal proteome and degradome in unprecedented depth and confirmed matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP10)-dependent processing of dermokine in vivo by terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates analysis of epidermis from transgenic mice that overexpress a constitutively active mutant of MMP10 in basal keratinocytes. [Mol Cell Proteomics] Abstract

Synthetic Ligands of the Elastin Receptor Induce Elastogenesis in Human Dermal Fibroblasts via Activation of Their IGF-1 Receptors
The authors demonstrated that treatment with xGVxxG peptides (recognizable by the anti-elastin antibody), up-regulated the levels of elastin-encoding mRNA, tropoelastin protein, and the deposition of new elastic fibers in cultures of human dermal fibroblasts and in cultured explants of human skin. [J Dermatol Sci] Abstract

L-Tyrosine Induces Melanocyte Differentiation in Novel Pink-Eyed Dilution Castaneus Mouse Mutant Showing Age-Related Pigmentation
The characteristics of melanocyte proliferation and differentiation were investigated by serum-free primary culture system using melanocyte-proliferation medium. [J Dermatol Sci] Abstract

Propionyl-L-Carnitine Enhances Wound Healing and Counteracts Microvascular Endothelial Cell Dysfunction
Scientists investigated the effects of propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) in rat skin flap and cutaneous wound healing. PLC treatment improved rat skin flap viability, accelerated wound healing and dermal angiogenesis. [PLoS One] Full Article

Simultaneous Isolation of Three Different Stem Cell Populations from Murine Skin
Researchers describe the simultaneous isolation and characterization of three stem cell populations from the dermis and epidermis of murine skin, namely epidermal stem cells, skin-derived precursors and mesenchymal stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Reactivation of p53 by a Cytoskeletal Sensor to Control the Balance between DNA Damage and Tumor Dissemination
Using 3D collagen systems to recapitulate melanoma extracellular matrix, the authors analyzed the relationship between the actomyosin cytoskeleton of migrating cells and DNA damage. [J Natl Cancer Inst]
Abstract | Press Release

The Matrix Protein Fibulin-5 Is at the Interface of Tissue Stiffness and Inflammation in Fibrosis
Investigators showed that the loss of Fibulin-5, an elastic fibre component, not only decreases tissue stiffness, but also diminishes the inflammatory response and abrogates the fibrotic phenotype in a mouse model of cutaneous fibrosis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

IκBζ Is a Key Driver in the Development of Psoriasis
Using genetically modified mice, researchers found that imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation was completely absent in IκBζ-deficient mice, whereas skin inflammation was still inducible in IL-17A– and TNFα-deficient mice. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

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Melinta Therapeutics Presents Complete Delafloxacin Results from Phase III Study in Patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections
Melinta Therapeutics announced complete results from the first of two Phase III studies of delafloxacin, an investigational fluoroquinolone in late-stage development for the treatment of patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. [Press release from Melinta Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at IDWeek 2015, San Diego] Press Release

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Kolltan Pharmaceuticals Announces Interim Efficacy Data from KTN3379 Phase Ib Clinical Trial
Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced interim tumor response data from an ongoing Phase Ib clinical trial in patients with solid tumors, as well as plans to expand the Phase Ib trial and the initiation of two new clinical trials of KTN3379, a human anti-ErbB3 monoclonal antibody drug candidate being developed for the treatment of adult patients with various solid tumors. [Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Dermatology (University of Pittsburgh)

NEW Research Technician II – Stem Cell and Gene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (Northwestern University)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Medicinal Chemistry (Auburn University)

Independent Junior Group Leader – Human Genetics of Inflammatory Skin Diseases (University of Lübeck)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer and Developmental Biology (University of California, Irvine)

Assistant Professor – Stem Cell Biology (University of South Carolina)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genetics (Feinberg School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – HMGA Chromatin Remodeling Proteins in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

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