Dermal Cell News Volume 2.18 | May 16 2016

Pelota Regulates Epidermal Differentiation by Modulating BMP and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways
Investigators showed that temporal deletion of Pelota protein prior to epidermal barrier acquisition leads to neonatal lethality due to perturbations in permeability barrier formation. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

C4.4A Gene Ablation Is Compatible with Normal Epidermal Development and Causes Modest Overt Phenotypes
The authors have generated and characterized the first C4.4A-deficient mouse line to gain insight into the functional significance of C4.4A in normal physiology and cancer progression. Congenital C4.4A deficiency delayed migration of keratinocytes enclosing incisional skin wounds in male mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Simultaneous Deactivation of FAK and Src Improves the Pathology of Hypertrophic Scar
Scientists found both FAK and Src were activated in hypertrophic scar vs. normal skin (NS), NS fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1 also exhibited FAK/Src activation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Regulation of Cellular Behaviors of Fibroblasts Related to Wound Healing by Sol-Gel Derived Bioactive Glass Particles
The authors synthesized sol-gel derived bioactive glass with different compositions and found 90S bioactive glass exhibited the best supportiveness for the proliferation of normal human foreskin fibroblasts. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Reciprocal Interplay between Thyroid Hormone and MicroRNA-21 Regulates Hedgehog Pathway–Driven Skin Tumorigenesis
The authors describe a reciprocal regulation between thyroid hormone action and the cancer-associated microRNA-21 in basal cell carcinoma skin tumors. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

Identifying and Targeting Determinants of Melanoma Cellular Invasion
The authors identified Peroxidasin, Netrin 4 and GLIS Family Zinc Finger 3 genes consistently elevated in invasive mesenchymal-like melanoma cells. [Oncotarget] Full Article

The Role of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Melanoma Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal-Like Switching: Evidence from Patients-Derived Cell Lines
Investigators used a novel panel of cell lines isolated from melanoma specimens, at initial passages, to investigate phenotype differences related to the levels and activity of WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. This in vitro cell system revealed a marked heterogeneity that comprises, in some cases, two distinct tumor-derived subpopulations of cells presenting a different activation level and cellular distribution of β-catenin. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Fibroblast Spheroids as a Model to Study Sustained Fibroblast Quiescence and Their Crosstalk with Tumor Cells
Scientists described a generation of quiescent fibroblasts in multicellular spheroids and their effects on squamous cell carcinoma growth in soft-agarose and xenograft models. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Cellular Mechanisms of Skin Repair in Humans and Other Mammals
The author summarizes the current knowledge of the cellular mechanisms that mediate wound closure in the skin of humans and laboratory animals. [J Cell Commun Signal] Abstract

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Ziarco Pharma Announces Positive Top Line Results from Phase IIa Study in Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis with Its Oral Lead Compound ZPL-389
Ziarco Pharma Ltd. announced positive top line results from its first Phase IIa proof of concept study of ZPL-389 for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. [Ziarco Pharma Ltd.] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (University of Southern California)

Medical Science Liaison Associate – Skin Diseases (Biofrontera Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Biology (California Institute for Biomedical Research)

Postdoctoral Positions – Immunology, Cancer, and Stem Cells (University of Connecticut)

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