Dermal Cell News Volume 2.27 | Jul 25 2016

TOP STORY

Antimicrobial Peptide LL37 and MAVS Signaling Drive Interferon-β Production by Epidermal Keratinocytes During Skin Injury

Investigators found that type 1 interferon-β was abundantly produced by epidermal keratinocytes in psoriasis and during wound repair. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Plexins Function in Epithelial Repair in Both Drosophila and Zebrafish

Scientists describe a role for Plexin A (PlexA), a protein with particularly well-characterized roles in axonal pathfinding, in the healing of damaged epithelia in Drosophila. Semaphorins, which are PlexA ligands, also regulate tissue repair. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Transient Tissue-Scale Deformation Coordinates Alignment of Planar Cell Polarity Junctions in the Mammalian Skin

Investigators showed that Celsr1 asymmetry arises concomitant with a gradient of tissue deformation oriented along the medial-lateral axis. This uniaxial tissue tension, whose origin remains unknown, transiently transforms basal epithelial cells from initially isotropic and disordered states into highly elongated and aligned morphologies. Reorienting tissue deformation is sufficient to shift the global axis of polarity, suggesting that uniaxial tissue strain can act as a long-range polarizing cue. [Curr Biol] Abstract

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Keratinocytes Is Essential for Murine Skin Barrier Integrity

Researchers showed that transepidermal water loss, a parameter of skin barrier integrity, is high in aryl hydrocarbon receptor-deficient mice. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Activation of Dopamine D₁ Receptors in Dermal Fibroblasts Restores VEGF-A Production by These Cells and Subsequent Angiogenesis in Diabetic Cutaneous Wound Tissues

Investigators demonstrated that stimulation of D₁ dopamine receptors present in dermal fibroblasts restores vascular endothelial growth factor A production by these cells, resulting in adequate angiogenesis and subsequent healing of cutaneous wounds in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic mice. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Epidermal RAF Prevents Allergic Skin Disease

Researchers generated mice with compound epidermis-restricted BRAF/RAF1 ablation. In these animals, transient barrier defects and production of chemokines and Th2-type cytokines by keratinocytes cause a disease akin to human atopic dermatitis, characterized by IgE responses and local and systemic inflammation. [Elife] Full Article

FOXM1 Allows Human Keratinocytes to Bypass the Oncogene-Induced Differentiation Checkpoint in Response to Gain of MYC or Loss of p53

Researchers demonstrated that keratinocyte oncogene-induced differentiation is caused by mitosis control and provided new insight into the mechanisms driving malignant progression in squamous cancer. [Oncogene] Full Article

Synergistic Functions of E2F7 and E2F8 Are Critical to Suppress Stress-Induced Skin Cancer

Scientists showed that loss of E2F7/8 triggers apoptosis via induction of E2F1 in response to stress, indicating that the tumor-promoting effect of E2F7/8 inactivation can be partially compensated via E2F1-dependent apoptosis. [Oncogene] Full Article

Cdkn2a Suppresses Metastasis in Squamous Cell Carcinomas Induced by the Gain-of-Function Mutant P53^R172H

Researchers showed that deletion of the p53 gene and activation of an endogenous p53^R172H gain-of-function mutation in the skin induces carcinomas with similar kinetics and penetrance. [J Pathol] Abstract

A Novel Compound Which Sensitizes BRAF Wild-Type Melanoma Cells to Vemurafenib in a TRIM16-Dependent Manner

Researchers identified a novel small molecule compound which sensitized BRAF wild-type melanoma cells to vemurafenib. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Current and Emerging Vascularization Strategies in Skin Tissue Engineering

Vascularization is a key process in skin tissue engineering, determining the biological function of artificial skin implants. Efficient vascularization strategies are a major prerequisite for the safe application of these implants in clinical practice. [Crit Rev Biotechnol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the dermal cell research field.

Journey Medical Corporation Launches Luxamend™ Wound Cream and Ceracade™ Skin Barrier Emulsion

Journey Medical Corporation launched the first two prescription products in its dermatology franchise, Luxamend™ Wound Cream and Ceracade™ Skin Barrier Emulsion. [Fortress Biotech] Press Release

Aclaris Therapeutics Completes Enrollment of Phase III Pivotal Trials of A-101 for the Treatment of Seborrheic Keratosis; Provides Update on Clinical Programs

Aclaris Therapeutics announced the completion of patient enrollment in its two Phase III pivotal clinical trials and its Phase III open-label safety trial of its lead candidate, A-101 Topical Solution (A-101) for the treatment of seborrheic keratosis. [Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of Brodalumab for Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. announced that the Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee appointed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted by a margin of eighteen to zero for the approval of Brodalumab injection for adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis with conditions related to product labeling and post-marketing/risk management obligations. [Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.] Press Release

Four Young Pediatric Cancer Research Fellows Earn $1 Million in New Awards

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named four outstanding young scientists as recipients of the prestigious Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Research Fellowship Award, committing nearly $1 million to help address a critical shortage of funding for pediatric cancer research. [The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation] Press Release

Scientific Literature: Information Overload

Recent bibliometrics show that the number of published scientific papers has climbed by 8–9% each year over the past several decades. In the biomedical field alone, more than 1 million papers pour into the PubMed database each year — about two papers per minute. For researchers who are already overwhelmed by bench and field work, grant-writing, publishing and other time-eaters, trying to navigate the growing deluge of data has become a second job. [Nature Careers] Editorial

Europe Overhauls Rules for ‘First-In-Human’ Trials in Wake of French Disaster

The European Union is beefing up protections for volunteers in Phase I clinical trials in the wake of a disastrous clinical study in Rennes, France, that resulted in the death of one volunteer and the hospitalization of five others. The European Medicines Agency in London announced in a “concept paper” that it wants to improve strategies to identify and reduce risks in “first-in-human” studies on healthy volunteers. [Science] Editorial

NEW From Stem Cells to Human Development
September 25-28, 2016
Southbridge, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Skin Biology (University of Cincinnati)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Department of Pathology and Immunology (University of Geneva)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Computational Biology (Helmholtz Association)

PhD Studentship – Epithelial Stem Cell Biology (Curtin University)

PhD Studentship – Quantitative Biology (University of Heidelberg)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skin Carcinogenesis (Inserm)

PhD Studentship – Dermal Cell Research (University of Southampton)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Modulation of Lipid Organization in the Skin Barrier (Leiden University)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Cytokine Research (Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology (Oregon Health & Science University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Tissue Regeneration (US Army Institute of Surgical Research)

Research Scientist – Hair Biophysics (L’Oreal)

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