Dermal Cell News Volume 2.31 | Aug 29 2016

TOP STORY

Inactivation of TGFβ Receptors in Stem Cells Drives Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Scientists identified frequent TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 mutations in human vemurafenib-induced skin lesions and in sporadic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Functional analysis reveals these mutations ablate canonical TGFβ Smad signaling, which is localized to bulge stem cells in both normal human and murine skin. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

TGF-β1 Promotes Scar Fibroblasts Proliferation and Transdifferentiation via Up-Regulating MicroRNA-21

Scientists found that TGF-β1 promoted scar fibroblasts proliferation and transdifferentiation via up-regulating miR-21 expression, which could be attenuated when miR-21 was inhibited. [Sci Rep] Full Article

TLR3 Activation Induces S100A7 to Regulate Keratinocyte Differentiation after Skin Injury

Scientists demonstrated that skin injury increased the expression of S100A7. Damaged cells from wounded skin induced the expression of S100A7 via the activation of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) followed by the activation of p38 MAPK. [Sci China Life Sci] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

The Tumor Suppressor CYLD Regulates the p53 DNA Damage Response

Scientists showed that loss of CYLD catalytic activity causes impaired DNA damage-induced p53 stabilization and activation in epithelial cells and sensitizes mice to chemical carcinogen-induced intestinal and skin tumorigenesis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Lunasin Is a Novel Therapeutic Agent for Targeting Melanoma Cancer Stem Cells

Investigators tested the potential of Lunasin to specifically target cancer-initiating cells in melanoma tumor cell populations. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Roles of Different IRES-Dependent FGF2 Isoforms in the Acquisition of the Major Aggressive Features of Human Metastatic Melanoma

To disclose the differential contribution of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) isoforms in melanoma, researchers forced the expression of internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-dependent low-molecular-weight and high-molecular-weight isoforms in a human metastatic melanoma cell line. [J Mol Med (Berl)] Abstract

Chemotaxis-Driven Disease-Site Targeting of Therapeutic Adult Stem Cells in Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Researchers demonstrated that recruitment of mouse adipose-derived stem cells into dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) skin is tightly controlled by disease-site chemotactic activities and suggest a potential mechanism for effective application of therapeutic stem cells for DEB. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Inhibitor ICG-001 Enhances Pigmentation of Cultured Melanoma Cells

Scientists evaluated the effects of several Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitors on pigmentation using melanoma cells. [J Dermatol Sci] Abstract

Expression of Cell-Surface Marker ABCB5 Causes Characteristic Modifications of Glucose, Amino Acid and Phospholipid Metabolism in the G3361 Melanoma-Initiating Cell Line

Scientists aimed to determine the effects of expression of ATP-binding cassette member B5 (ABCB5), a previously described marker for melanoma-initiating cells, on cellular metabolism. Metabolic profiles for two groups of human G3361 melanoma cells were compared, i.e. wildtype melanoma cells with intact ABCB5 expression and corresponding melanoma cell variants with inhibited ABCB5 expression. [PLoS One] Full Article

Crosstalk in Skin: Melanocytes, Keratinocytes, Stem Cells, and Melanoma

In this mini-review, the authors summarize findings on cell-cell interactions that are responsible for normal melanocyte homeostasis, stem cell self-renewal, and differentiation. [J Cell Commun Signal] Abstract

Recent Developments in Melanoma Therapy

While impressive long-term overall and progression-free survival data were presented for patients with advanced melanoma treated with both immune and targeted therapies, sobering data were presented regarding therapy for NRAS-mutant and uveal subtypes, proving that the battle is far from won. [JAMA Oncol] Full Article

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

Melanoma: Mechanisms of BRAF-Inhibitor Resistance Deciphered

Patients with metastasizing melanomas and who display BRAF mutation can be treated with an inhibitor that acts specifically against BRAF mutation (BRAF inhibitor in combination with MEK inhibitor). Initially the treatment is extremely effective but, after a maximum of 11 months, the patient becomes resistant to it. Scientists have identified some of the mechanisms that might cause this resistance. [Press release from Medical University of Vienna [AlphaGalileo] discussing research presented at The 16^th World Congress on Cancers of the Skin, Vienna] Press Release

Xycrobe Announces Research Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation

Xycrobe Therapeutics announced that it has entered into a research agreement with Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. The collaboration, facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, is focused on further understanding applications of Xycrobe’s platform technology developed for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. [Xycrobe Therapeutics, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Health Science Center, UTSA Gain $4.6 Million for Cancer Research

The Center for Innovative Drug Discovery, a joint program of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), is receiving a $4,598,728 grant from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas. [University of Texas] Press Release

New Leader of NIH’s Research Watchdog Faces Staff Revolt

The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) in Rockville, Maryland, which guards against misconduct in biomedical research, usually attracts attention with its findings, not its internal workings. But two years ago, its director, David Wright, quit in a public huff, complaining that ORI was hobbled by a dysfunctional federal bureaucracy. Now, his successor is encountering her own rough waters, Science has learned. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

South African Academics Warn of Universities on the Brink

More than 1,200 South African academics are warning that the country’s university system is at a tipping point as a result of chronic underfunding. [Nature] Editorial

NEW Organoids: Modeling Organ Development and Disease in 3D Culture
October 12-15, 2016
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Biology (The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cutaneous Biology (University of Wisconsin in Madison)

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Cancer Biology (Michigan State University)

Research Associate/Senior Research Associate – Applied Genetic Epidemiology (University of Bristol)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cell Biology (Stony Brook University)

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

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)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skin Carcinogenesis (Inserm)

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