Dermal Cell News Volume 2.43 | Dec 5 2016

TOP STORY

Imaging Mitochondrial Dynamics in Human Skin Reveals Depth-Dependent Hypoxia and Malignant Potential for Diagnosis

Investigators reported that mitochondrial dynamics can be monitored in vivo, within intact human skin by relying entirely on endogenous two-photon-excited fluorescence from the reduced metabolic coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Healthy tissues displayed consistent, depth-dependent morphological and mitochondrial organization patterns that varied with histological stratification and intraepithelial mitochondrial protein expression. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

TGF-β1 Induces Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein to Alter Fibroblasts Proliferation and Fibronectin Deposition in Keloid

Scientists demonstrated that the splicing regulator polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), which plays a pivotal role in tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis, was overexpressed in keloid tissues and fibroblasts. Additionally, TGF-β1 upregulated the expressions of PTB and its upstream regulator, C-MYC, in keloid fibroblasts. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Melanosome Transfer to Keratinocyte in the Chicken Embryonic Skin Is Mediated by Vesicle Release Associated with Rho-Regulated Membrane Blebbing

Researchers, using a technique that labels the plasma membrane of melanocytes within a three-dimensional system that mimics natural tissues, visualized the plasma membrane of melanocytes with EGFP in chicken embryonic skin. They further showed that the membrane vesicle-mediated melanosome transfer plays a significant role in the skin pigmentation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

MiR-181a Targets PHLPP2 to Augment AKT Signaling and Regulate Proliferation and Apoptosis in Human Keloid Fibroblasts

Scientists found that miR-181a was significantly upregulated in human keloid tissues and fibroblasts. Overexpression of miR-181a enhanced keloid fibroblast DNA synthesis and proliferation and inhibited apoptosis, whereas miR-181a suppression triggered the opposite effects. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Serum Amyloid A, an Acute Phase Protein, Stimulates Proliferative and Proinflammatory Responses of Keratinocytes

The authors found that serum amyloid A (SAA) was highly expressed in skin lesions of imiquimod-treated psoriasis-like mice and neutralizing SAA attenuated epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation. SAA in vitro promoted keratinocyte proliferation and expression of immunological mediators, while inhibiting differentiation. [Cell Prolif] Abstract

Forkhead Box C1 Regulates Human Primary Keratinocyte Terminal Differentiation

Using a RNA-sequencing profiling approach, investigators found that forkhead box c 1 (FOXC1) was significantly up-regulated in human normal primary keratinocyte (KC) during the course of differentiation. They defined FOXC1 as a regulator specific for KC terminal differentiation. [PLoS One] Full Article

Endothelial Cell-Derived Endothelin-1 Is Involved in Abnormal Scar Formation by Dermal Fibroblasts through RhoA/Rho-Kinase Pathway

The authors investigated the pathophysiological significance of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and involvement of RhoA, a member of the Rho GTPases, in hypertrophic scar/keloid formation. They found that ET-1 expression on dermal microvascular endothelial cells in hypertrophic scars and keloids was higher than that in normal skin and mature scars. They confirmed that ET-1 induced myofibroblast differentiation and collagen synthesis in cultured human dermal fibroblasts through the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway. [Exp Dermatol] Abstract

SVEP1 Plays a Crucial Role in Epidermal Differentiation

Scientists characterized SVEP1 function in the epidermis. SVEP1 was found by qRT-PCR to be ubiquitously expressed in human tissues, including the skin. Down-regulation of SVEP1 expression in primary keratinocytes resulted in decreased expression of major epidermal differentiation markers. [Exp Dermatol] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

IL-12 Protects from Psoriasiform Skin Inflammation

The authors dissected the individual contribution of two cytokines to the formation of psoriatic lesions and to understand the effect of therapeutic co-targeting of IL-12 and IL-23 in psoriasis. They discovered that IL-12 receptor signalling in keratinocytes initiates a protective transcriptional program that limits skin inflammation. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Phosphorylation of NFAT3 by CDK3 Induces Cell Transformation and Promotes Tumor Growth in Skin Cancer

Researchers reported that NFAT3 was highly expressed in various skin cancer cell lines and tumor tissues. Knockdown of endogenous NFAT3 expression by short hairpin RNA significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation, colony formation and anchorage-independent cell growth. [Oncogene] Full Article

DEK Oncogene Is Overexpressed during Melanoma Progression

DEK is known to be preferentially expressed in actively proliferating and malignant cells, including melanoma cell lines. DEK was previously demonstrated to play a critical role in proliferation and chemoresistance. Investigators performed a comprehensive analysis of DEK expression in different melanocytic tumors. [Pigment Cell Melanoma Res] Abstract

STAT3 Targeting by Polyphenols: Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Melanoma

The authors reviewed the mechanisms of the STAT3 pathway regulation and their role in promoting melanoma. They evaluated the emerging data on polyphenols, specifically their contribution in melanoma therapies with an emphasis on their regulatory/inhibitory actions in relation to STAT3 pathway and current progress in the development of phytochemical therapeutic techniques. [Biofactors] Abstract

A Review of Kinase Fusions in Melanocytic Tumors

The recent reports of multiple protein kinase fusions within melanocytic neoplasms, particularly in those with spitzoid morphology, have heralded a new era of classification of these melanocytic tumors. This review focuses on the kinase fusions described to date in spitzoid neoplasms and how subsequent studies have informed current melanoma research. [Lab Invest] Abstract

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

FDA Accepts the Biologics License Application for Avelumab for the Treatment of Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma for Priority Review

EMD Serono Inc. and Pfizer Inc. announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for Priority Review EMD Serono’s Biologics License Application for avelumab. This review relates to avelumab’s proposed use in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, based on tumor response results from the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial. [EMD Serono Inc.] Press Release

Regenacy Pharmaceuticals to Be Launched by Acetylon Pharmaceuticals and Celgene Corporation Agrees to Complete Acquisition of Acetylon

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals announced that it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Celgene Corporation. Prior to the consummation of the acquisition, Acetylon will spin out a new company, Regenacy Pharmaceuticals, LLC, which will focus on the development of novel drug candidates that selectively regenerate intracellular transport and upregulate gene expression to modify the course of disease. [Acetylon Pharmaceuticals] Press Release

US Health-Reform Legislation Clears Big Hurdle

Legislation that would streamline research and development at the US National Institutes of Health and drug regulation at the Food and Drug Administration is one step closer to becoming law. The US House of Representatives approved the nearly 1,000-page bill — known as the 21st Century Cures Act — on 30 November. The Senate is expected to take up the controversial US$6.3-billion measure as early as next week. [Nature News] Editorial

Maryland Congressman in Running to Head NIH?

Representative Andy Harris, an anesthesiologist who has shown a keen interest in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) while in Congress, has put his hat in the ring for NIH director in the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, he told ScienceInsider. Harris says he knows that some biomedical scientists would view him as a controversial choice, but argues that his blend of research and political experience would make him a good advocate for addressing NIH’s flaws and for growing the agency’s budget in a time of fiscal restraint. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Challenges, Solutions and Progress in Stem Cell Medicine
February 18-21, 2017
Carlsbad, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology)

NEW Assistant/Associate Professor – Melanoma (Case Western Reserve University)

NEW Bioinformatician – Melanoma (CRUK Manchester Institute)

Assistant Professor – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

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)

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

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

Have we missed an important article or publication in Dermal Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.