Dermal Cell News Volume 2.28 | Aug 8 2016

TOP STORY

Clinical Trial Results Support Adalimumab Treatment for Painful Skin Condition

The results of two Phase III clinical trials that led to FDA approval of adalimumab for treatment of the chronic inflammatory skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa were published. An inhibitor of the inflammatory protein tumor necrosis factor, adalimumab is the first such medication approved to treat the painful skin disorder. [Press release from Massachusetts General Hospital discussing online prepublication in The New England Journal of Medicine] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b Associate with Enhancers to Regulate Human Epidermal Stem Cell Homeostasis

The genome-wide localization and function of endogenous Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in adult stem cells are unknown. Scientists showed that in human epidermal stem cells, the two proteins bind in a histone H3K36me3-dependent manner to the most active enhancers and are required to produce their associated enhancer RNAs. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Absrtact | Press Release

Cutaneous Wound Healing Through Paradoxical MAPK Activation by BRAF Inhibitors

Scientists showed how the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib accelerates skin wound healing by inducing the proliferation and migration of human keratinocytes through extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation and cell cycle progression. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Agonistic Analogs of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Promote Wound Healing by Stimulating the Proliferation and Survival of Human Dermal Fibroblasts Through ERK and AKT Pathways

The activities of two agonistic analogs of growth hormone releasing hormone, MR-409 and MR-502, were evaluated for their impact on proliferation and survival of primary human dermal fibroblasts. [Oncotarget] Full Article

The Retinoid Agonist Tazarotene Promotes Angiogenesis and Wound Healing

In vivo, Tazarotene enhanced the growth of mature and functional microvessels in Matrigel implants and wound healing models, and increased blood flow. In ear punch wound healing model, Tazarotene promoted tissue repair characterized by rapid ear punch closure with normal-appearing skin containing new hair follicles, and maturing collagen fibers. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Targeted Alternative Splicing of TAF4: A New Strategy for Cell Reprogramming

Investigators showed that manipulating alternative splicing is a highly potent strategy to produce cells for therapeutic applications. They demonstrated that silencing of hTAF4-TAFH activity of TAF4 converts human facial dermal fibroblasts to melanocyte-like cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

E2F1 Hinders Skin Wound Healing by Repressing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression, Neovascularization, and Macrophage Recruitment.

Scientists found E2F1 hinders skin wound healing by suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor expression, neovascularization, and macrophage recruitment. [PLoS One] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Loss of Cohesin Complex Components STAG2 or STAG3 Confers Resistance to BRAF Inhibition in Melanoma

Researchers showed that loss of stromal antigen 2 (STAG2) or STAG3, which encode subunits of the cohesin complex, in melanoma cells results in resistance to inhibitors of B-rad proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF). [Nat Med] Abstract | Press Release

Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation Is Increased in Psoriasis and Induces Human β-Defensin-2 Production in Epidermal Keratinocytes

Researchers evaluated whether the amount of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is increased in psoriasis and determined the effect of NETs on human β-defensin-2HBD-2 production in epidermal keratinocytes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

MicroRNA-15a Inhibits the Growth and Invasiveness of Malignant Melanoma and Directly Targets on CDCA4 Gene

Investigators examined the effects of miR-15a on the proliferation and invasiveness of malignant melanoma cells in vitro, as well as the therapeutic effect of miR-15a in a mouse melanoma model. [Tumour Biol] Abstract

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Tissue Repair and Fibrosis

The authors summarize the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in physiologic repair and pathologic fibrosis of tissues and organs. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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

Provectus Biopharmaceuticals Announces Poster Presentation on PV-10 for Melanoma at European Society for Medical Oncology 2016 Congress

Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that a poster presentation titled “Intralesional rose bengal for Stage III and IV melanoma” is to be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2016 Congress. [Press release from Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2016 Congress, Copenhagen, Denmark] Press Release

Almirall and Sun Pharma Enter into a License Agreement for Tildrakizumab in Europe for Psoriasis

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Almirall announced a licensing agreement on the development and commercialization of tildrakizumab for psoriasis in Europe. [Almirall] Press Release

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Grants Prestigious Fellowship Awards to 17 Top Young Scientists

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation named 17 new Damon Runyon Fellows at its spring Fellowship Award Committee review. [Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation] Press Release

The FDA Is Prohibited from Going Germline

A potentially renewable provision of the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2016 forestalling the prospect of human germline modification was signed into law on December 18th, 2015. The provision has since been incorporated again into the House and Senate appropriation bills for the fiscal year. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

US Agency Lifts Ban on Funding Human–Animal Hybrids

Researchers in the United States will soon be able to resume creating chimaera-based projects. [Nature News] Editorial

UK Research Assessment Should Boost Support for Principal Investigators

A committee led by economist Nicholas Stern published recommendations on how to improve the United Kingdom’s Research Excellence Framework. [Nature News] Editorial

Replications, Ridicule and a Recluse: The Controversy over NgAgo Gene-Editing Intensifies

A controversy is escalating over whether a gene-editing technique proposed as an alternative to the popular CRISPR–Cas9 system actually works. [Nature News] Editorial

Antibiotics Funding Splurge Gets Mixed Reception

Antibiotics researchers are set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars from a new funding stream — but not everyone thinks the cash is being directed to the right place. [Nature News] Editorial

Young Blood Antiaging Trial Raises Questions

A startup company has launched the first clinical trial in the United States to test the antiaging benefits of young blood in relatively healthy people. But there’s a big caveat: It’s a pay-to-participate trial, a type that has raised ethical concerns before, most recently in the stem cell field. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Dispute over President’s Age Tears Pasteur Institute Apart

Is 65 too old to stay at the helm of a major research center? That question is sowing division at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Science has learned, and has plunged the 128-year-old institute, home to 1200 scientists and the place where HIV was first isolated, into a leadership crisis. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 12^th International Skin Carcinogenesis Conference
September 21-23, 2016
Austin, United States

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

NEW PhD Position – Regulation of Keratinocyte Cell Death (University of Birmingham)

NEW PhD Research Project – Human Tissue Interactions (University of Sheffield)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skin Biology (University of Cincinnati)

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)

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

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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