Dermal Cell News Volume 2.00 | Jan 4 2016

A Negative Regulatory Mechanism Involving 14-3-3ζ Limits Signaling Downstream of ROCK to Regulate Tissue Stiffness in Epidermal Homeostasis
Investigators identified a negative feedback mechanism that limits excessive ROCK signaling during wound healing and is lost in squamous cell carcinomas. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Deep Sequencing as a Probe of Normal Stem Cell Fate and Preneoplasia in Human Epidermis
Investigators showed that the quantitative analysis of mutant clone size provides a general method to resolve the pattern of normal stem cell fate and to detect and characterize the mutational signature of rare field transformations in human tissues, with implications for the early detection of preneoplasia. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

An Essential Role of NRF2 in Diabetic Wound Healing
Investigators showed that perilesional skin tissues from diabetic patients are under more severe oxidative stress and display higher activation of the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response than perilesional skin tissues from normoglycemic patients. [Diabetes] Abstract

Identification of Drugs that Regulate Dermal Stem Cells and Enhance Skin Repair
The authors asked whether they could identify pharmacological agents that enhance endogenous stem cell function to promote skin repair, focusing on skin-derived precursors, a dermal precursor cell population. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The Ezh2 Polycomb Group Protein Drives an Aggressive Phenotype in Melanoma Cancer Stem Cells and Is a Target of Diet Derived Sulforaphane
Scientists showed that the Ezh2 stem cell survival protein is enriched in melanoma cancer stem cells and that Ezh2 knockdown or treatment with small molecule Ezh2 inhibitors, GSK126 or EPZ-6438, reduces Ezh2 activity. [Mol Carcinog] Abstract

Local Release of Pioglitazone (a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Agonist) Accelerates Proliferation and Remodeling Phases of Wound Healing
Scientists developed a drug delivery system for the local release of pioglitazone to promote wound healing. [Wound Repair Regen] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Implantable Synthetic Cytokine Converter Cells with AND-Gate Logic Treat Experimental Psoriasis
Researchers designed a mammalian cell synthetic cytokine converter that quantifies psoriasis-associated tumor necrosis factor and interleukin (IL) 22 levels using serially linked receptor-based synthetic signaling cascades, processes the levels of these proinflammatory cytokines with AND-gate logic, and triggers the corresponding expression of therapeutic levels of the anti-inflammatory/psoriatic cytokines IL4 and IL10, which have been shown to be immunomodulatory in patients. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Fyn Is a Redox Sensor Involved in Solar Ultraviolet Light-Induced Signal Transduction in Skin Carcinogenesis
Investigators used an experimental system of solar simulated light to mimic solar ultraviolet and they demonstrated that Fyn is a primary redox sensor involved in solar simulated light-induced signal transduction. [Oncogene] Abstract

Requirement of MyD88 Signaling in Keratinocytes for Langerhans Cell Migration and Initiation of Atopic Dermatitis-Like Symptoms in Mice
To elucidate the impact of innate immune signaling in atopic dermatitis (AD), researchers analyzed MyD88-deficient mice in a murine model of AD-like dermatitis by epicutaneous sensitization with ovalbumin [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

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Amarantus Requests Rare Pediatric Disease and Orphan Drug Designations from US FDA for Engineered Skin Substitute in the Treatment of Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevi
Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc. announced that it has requested rare pediatric disease designation and orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat GCMN with Engineered Skin Substitute. [Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc.] Press Release

RXi Pharmaceuticals Announces the Initiation of a Phase II Trial in Dermatology with Samcyprone for Cutaneous Warts
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial in dermatology. The clinical study RXI-SCP-1502 will evaluate the safety and clinical activity of Samcyprone™ on the clearance of cutaneous warts. [RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation] Press Release

Array BioPharma Announces Phase III Binimetinib Trial Meets Primary Endpoint for NRAS-Mutant Melanoma
Array BioPharma reported top-line results from the ongoing Phase III clinical trial of binimetinib in patients with advanced NRAS-mutant melanoma, known as the NEMO trial. [Array BioPharma] Press Release

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NEW Professor – Dermato-oncology (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn)

NEW Postdoctoral Scholarship – Cancer Biology (Lund University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Tumor Immunology and Cancer Metabolism (Yale University)

NEW Science Content Writer (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Regenerative Medicine (University of Copenhagen)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetics of Genome Maintenance (National Cancer Institute)

Research Fellow – Dermatology (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

PhD Position – Cancer Research and Wound Healing (Technion, Israel Institute of Technology)

Senior Manager – Immunology (Baxalta Innovations GmbH)

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