Dermal Cell News Volume 2.44 | Dec 12 2016

TOP STORY

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Inactivation Disrupts Melanogenesis via mTORC1 Activation

Using human primary melanocytes and a highly pigmented melanoma cell line, scientists demonstrated that reduced expression of either tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)1 or TSC2 causes reduced pigmentation through mTORC1 activation. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

P311 Accelerates Skin Wound Reepithelialization by Promoting Epidermal Stem Cell Migration through Rho A and Rac1 Activation

Researchers found that P311 could enhance reepithelialization during wound healing via promoting epidermal stem cell migration through Rho GTPases. P311 expression was highly increased in neo-epidermal cells during human and mouse skin wound healing, and P311 was co-localized with BrdU positive label-retaining cells in a mouse superficial second degree burn wound model. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Activin Promotes Skin Carcinogenesis by Attraction and Reprogramming of Macrophages

Scientists showed that activin overexpression was an early event in murine and human skin tumorigenesis. This was functionally important, since activin promoted skin tumorigenesis in mice induced by the human papillomavirus 8 oncogenes. Most importantly, activin increased the number of skin macrophages via attraction of blood monocytes, which was prevented by depletion of CCR2-positive monocytes. [EMBO Mol Med] Full Article

ERBB2 Is Essential for the Growth of Chemically-Induced Skin Tumors in Mice

To assess the functions of ERBB2 in skin homeostasis, tumorigenesis, and wound healing researchers employed keratin 5-directed, cre recombinase-mediated targeting of Erbb2 alleles in mice. ERBB2 was dispensable for the development and homeostasis of the epidermis and its appendages. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Overexpression of Glucocorticoid-Induced Leucine Zipper Increases Susceptibility to Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis and Involves Cutaneous Activation of TGF-β1

Investigators evaluated whether glucocorticoid (GC)-induced leucine zipper may provide a better therapeutic index in comparison to GCs during the onset and progression of psoriasis by generating and characterizing a mouse model with generalized overexpression of this protein and the imiquimod psoriasis model. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Deregulation of miR-183 Promotes Melanoma Development via lncRNA MALAT1 Regulation and ITGB1 Signal Activation

The authors found down-regulation of miR-183 in melanoma tissues and cells. They further found that the expression and function of miR-183 were suppressed by MALAT1. Integrin β1 (ITGB1) was then speculated and confirmed as a direct target of miR-183. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Effects of Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitors on Lymphatic Vessels: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study in a Melanoma Model

Scientists investigated the effects of pharmacological fatty acid synthase inhibition on lymphatic vessels by using cell culture and mouse models. They showed that cerulenin and orlistat decreased the viability, proliferation, and migration of human lymphatic endothelial cells. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Melanoma Exosomes Deliver a Complex Biological Payload that Upregulates PTPN11 to Suppress T Lymphocyte Function

Investigators assayed the impact on primary CD8⁺ T cell function, a key mechanism for anti-tumor immunity, of exosomes derived from three melanoma-related cell lines. B16F0 exosomes were unique in that they contained both protein and mRNA for Ptpn11, which inhibited T cell proliferation. [Pigment Cell Melanoma Res] Abstract

Ophiobolin A Induces Autophagy and Activates the Mitochondrial Pathway of Apoptosis in Human Melanoma Cells

Researchers investigated the anti-proliferative effect of Ophiobolin A on human melanoma A375 and CHL-1 cell lines. Ophyobolin A strongly reduced cell viability of melanoma cells by affecting mitochondrial functionality. [PLoS One] Full Article

Forsythia suspensa Suppresses House Dust Mite Extract-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice

Scientists evaluated the therapeutic effects of an ethanol extract from F. suspensa fruits on atopic dermatitis both in vivo and in vitro. They investigated the inhibitory effects of F. suspensa extract on the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in an NC/Nga mouse model exposed to Dermatophagoides farinae crude extract. [PLoS One] Full Article

Preclinical Evaluation of Radiation and Systemic, RGD-Targeted, Adeno-Associated Virus Phage-TNF Gene Therapy in a Mouse Model of Spontaneously Metastatic Melanoma

The authors demonstrated that the combination of RGD-targeted adeno-associated virus phage with hypofractionated radiation therapy results in synergistic inhibition of primary syngeneic B16 melanoma in a C57 mouse model. Furthermore, this combination modified the tumor microenvironment, resulting in decreased Tregs in the draining LN and increased tumor-associated macrophages within the primary tumor. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

Autophagy in UV Damage Response

The authors summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms governing autophagy regulation by UV, the roles of autophagy in regulating cellular response to UV-induced photodamage, and the implications of autophagy modulation in the treatment and prevention of photoaging and skin cancer. [Photochem Photobiol] Abstract

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

Purdue Pharma and Exicure Announce Strategic Research Collaboration Agreement to Discover and Develop a Treatment for Psoriasis and Other Diseases Utilizing SNA^™ Technology

Purdue Pharma L.P. and Exicure, Inc. announced a strategic research collaboration, option and license agreement to discover and develop a treatment for psoriasis, and other diseases amenable to a gene regulation approach utilizing Exicure’s Spherical Nucleic Acid (SNA)™ technology. [Purdue Pharma L.P.] Press Release

Almirall and Nuevolution Enter into a Strategic Collaboration to Develop RORγT Inhibitors for Treatment of Dermatology Diseases and Psoriatic Arthritis

Almirall S.A. and Nuevolution A/S announced that they have entered into a global strategic collaboration focusing on the development and commercialization of Nuevolution’s novel RORγt inverse agonist program for treatment of inflammatory skin diseases and disorders as well as for treatment of psoriatic arthritis. [Almirall S.A.] Press Release

PellePharm Launches with Financing from BridgeBio Pharma to Develop Topical Therapy for Basal Cell Carcinomas and Gorlin Syndrome

PellePharm announced its launch with financing from BridgeBio Pharma. This financing supports the development of topical patidegib through the completion of two Phase II clinical trials that are underway, including a clinical trial in Gorlin Syndrome that just completed enrollment. [PellePharm (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Regeneron and Sanofi Announce Marketing Authorization Application for Dupixent^® Accepted for Review by the EMA

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review the Marketing Authorization Application for Dupixent^® for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who are candidates for systemic therapy. [Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Brexit by the Numbers: The Fear of Brain Drain

British universities fear losing large swathes of their research staff as the country faces up to Brexit, the split with the European Union. More than 31,000 academics at UK universities are non-British EU citizens, and so may lose their rights to live in the United Kingdom after Brexit. [Nature Trend Watch] Editorial

Italian Scientists Won’t Miss Departing Prime Minister Matteo Renzi

Italian politics is in turmoil after the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi — but researchers say that they are not particularly sad to see him go. In his almost three years in charge, Renzi promised improvements for universities and science but failed to raise the status of research in the country, according to scientists who complain that he also directly interfered in academic affairs. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Translational Opportunities in Stem Cell Research
February 27-March 1, 2017
Basel, Switzerland

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Melanoma (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

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

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

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)

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