Dermal Cell News Volume 2.42 | Nov 28 2016

TOP STORY

Cell-Type-Specific Chromatin States Differentially Prime Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tumor-Initiating Cells for Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Some tumors undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) while others do not, which may reflect intrinsic properties of their cell of origin. However, this possibility is largely unexplored. By targeting the same oncogenic mutations to discrete skin compartments, scientists showed that cell-type-specific chromatin and transcriptional states differentially prime tumors to EMT. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carrier-Based Nanotherapeutics in Treatment of Psoriasis: A Comparative Study

Investigators developed ultra-small solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) encapsulating cyclosporine and calcipotriol, further incorporated into gel, which increased their penetration through the skin. Ex vivo dermatokinetic studies revealed deeper and confined drug penetration of lipid formulation gel in epidermal layers as compared to free drug. In vitro study on HaCaT cell lines depicted higher uptake and high efficacy owing to decrease in cell viability for NLC. [Expert Opin Drug Deliv] Abstract

In Vivo Coherent Raman Imaging of the Melanomagenesis-Associated Pigment Pheomelanin

Researchers showed that the distribution of pheomelanin in cells and tissues can be visually characterized non-destructively and noninvasively in vivo with coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy, a label-free vibrational imaging technique. They validated the CARS imaging strategy in vitro to in vivo with synthetic pheomelanin, isolated melanocytes, and the Mc1r^e/e, red-haired mouse model. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Human Hair-Follicle Associated Pluripotent (hHAP) Stem Cells Differentiate to Cardiac-Muscle Cells

The authors isolated the upper part of human hair follicles containing human HAP (hHAP) stem cells. The upper parts of human hair follicles differentiated to cardiac-muscle cells as well as neurons, glial cells, keratinocytes and smooth-muscle cells. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Perilla frutescens Leaves Extract Ameliorates Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Extracellular Matrix Damage in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and Hairless Mice Skin

Researchers investigated the effect of Perilla frutescens leaves extract (PLE) on ultraviolet radiation-induced extracellular matrix damage in human dermal fibroblasts and hairless mice skin. PLE significantly inhibited basal and UV-induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression dose-dependently, and also decreased UV-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and c-Jun N-terminal kinases. [J Ethnopharmacol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Hsa-miR-520d-5p Promotes Survival in Human Dermal Fibroblasts Exposed to a Lethal Dose of UV Irradiation

It was previously reported that hsa-miR-520d-5p is functionally involved in the induction of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition and stemness-mediated processes in normal cells and cancer cells, respectively. On the basis of the synergistic effect of p53 upregulation and demethylation induced by 520d-5p, the authors investigated the effect of this miRNA on apoptotic induction by ultraviolet (UV) B light in normal human dermal fibroblast cells. [NPJ Aging Mech Dis] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Activation of Mutant TERT Promoter by RAS-ERK Signaling Is a Key Step in Malignant Progression of BRAF-Mutant Human Melanomas

Frequent co-occurrence of mutations in the promoter for telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), along with BRAF alterations, had recently been noted and correlated with poorer prognosis, implicating a functional link between BRAF signaling and telomerase reactivation in melanomas. Investigators reported that RAS-ERK signaling in BRAF mutant melanomas is critical for regulating active chromatin state and recruitment of RNA polymerase II at mutant TERT promoters. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Differential Regulation of the Melanoma Proteome by eIF4A1 and eIF4E

Small molecules and antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit the translation initiation factors eIF4A1 and eIF4E have been explored as broad-based therapeutic agents for cancer treatment, based on the frequent upregulation of these two subunits of the eIF4F cap-binding complex in many cancer cells. In this study, scientists provided support for these therapeutic approaches with mechanistic studies of eIF4F-driven tumor progression in a preclinical model of melanoma. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Androgen Receptor Promotes Melanoma Metastasis via Altering the miRNA-539-3p/USP13/MITF/AXL Signals

Investigators reported that androgen receptors (ARs) can have positive roles to increase melanoma cell invasion in multiple cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Mechanism dissection suggested that AR increases melanoma cell invasion via modulating the MITF-AXL signals via altering the miRNA-539-3p/USP13 signaling to increase MITF protein degradation through a reduction of de-ubiquitination. [Oncogene] Abstract

Genome-Wide Overexpression Screen Identifies Genes Able to Bypass p16-Mediated Senescence in Melanoma

Malignant melanomas often arise from nevi, which result from initial oncogene-induced hyperproliferation of melanocytes that are maintained in a CDKN2A/p16-mediated senescent state. Thus, genes that can bypass this senescence barrier are likely to contribute to melanoma development. The authors performed a gain-of-function screen of 17,030 lentivirally expressed human open reading frames in a melanoma cell line containing an inducible p16 construct to identify such genes. [J Biomol Screen] Abstract

Psoriasis

The authors discuss psoriasis – a chronic, immune-mediated disorder with cutaneous and systemic manifestations and substantial negative effects on patient quality of life. Psoriasis has a strong, albeit polygenic, genetic basis. Psoriasis pathophysiology is characterized by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and immune cell infiltration in the dermis and epidermis involving the innate and adaptive immune systems, with important roles for dendritic cells and T cells, among other cells. [Nat Rev Dis Primers] Abstract

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

QuintilesIMS Forms New Collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer to Generate Real World Insights on Usage of Anti-Cancer Therapies across Europe

QuintilesIMS announced that it will lead a collaborative initiative involving founding partners Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer, which aims to provide clearer and more proactive insight into how anti-cancer treatments are used in a real-world setting across key European markets. [QuintilesIMS (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Orchard Therapeutics and UCLA Receive $20 Million in Latest Round of Funding From California’s Stem Cell Agency

Orchard Therapeutics Limited and researchers from the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, Los Angeles, led by Orchard Scientific Advisory Board member Dr. Donald Kohn have been awarded $20 million by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s governing board. [Orchard Therapeutics Limited] Press Release

Congress Poised to Pass Sweeping Biomedical Innovation Bill

Congress is poised to approve a massive piece of legislation that would provide the National Institutes of Health with $4.8 billion over the next decade for a set of research initiatives, including brain and cancer research and efforts to develop so-called precision medicine treatments that are tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Spanish Military Flies Lab Animals to Canary Islands after Airlines Refuse to Take Them on Board

Twenty-nine transgenic mice that two Spanish airlines had refused to transport hitched a ride to the Canary Islands on a military plane Friday and are now at their final destination, the University of La Laguna on Tenerife in Spain. The mice, bred in the United States, had been stranded in Madrid for two months because Iberia and Air Europa have stopped shipping laboratory animals. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 19^th International Conference on Clinical Application of Adult Stem Cells
February 14-15, 2017
Havana, Cuba

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

NEW Assistant Professor – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Molecular and Cellular (University of Dundee)

Postdoctoral Position – System Tissue Engineering & Morphogenesis (University of Syracuse)

Assistant Professor – Molecular Therapeutics of Cancer (Dartmouth College)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genetic Regulators of Tissue Development (University of California-San Diego)

Professorship Position – Dermatology (Medical University of Vienna)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Epithelial Tissue Development (University of California-San Diego)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunobiology of Stromal Cells (Institut Pasteur)

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

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