Dermal Cell News Volume 3.10 | Mar 27 2017

TOP STORY

A Genome-Wide Screen Identifies YAP/WBP2 Interplay Conferring Growth Advantage on Human Epidermal Stem Cells

Individual human epidermal cells differ in their self-renewal ability. To uncover the molecular basis for this heterogeneity, researchers performed genome-wide pooled RNA interference screens and identified genes conferring a clonal growth advantage on normal and neoplastic human epidermal cells. The Hippo effector YAP was amongst the top positive growth regulators in both screens. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Effects of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Coculture on Calcium-Induced Differentiation of Normal Human Keratinocytes

Scientists cocultured umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with normal human epidermal keratinocytes to evaluate their paracrine effect in the presence of high extracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) concentration. They found that MSCs suppress both proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes under a high Ca²⁺ environment in transforming growth factors β1-dependent manner. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Efficient Generation of Chemically Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Dermal Fibroblasts

The authors established a chemical method to convert primary human dermal fibroblasts into multipotent, induced mesenchymal stromal/stem cell-like cells. The conversion method used a defined cocktail of small molecules and growth factors, and it achieved efficient conversion with an average rate of 38% in six days. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Influence of a Pre-Stimulation with Chronic Low-Dose UVB on Stress Response Mechanisms in Human Skin Fibroblasts

Researchers investigated the effect of a chronic low-dose of UVB (CLUV) pre-stimulation on the different stress response pathways. They found that CLUV pre-stimulation enhances cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) repair capacity and lead to a cell cycle delay but left residual unrepaired CPD. [PLoS One] Full Article

Diacerein Inhibits the Pro-Atherogenic & Pro-Inflammatory Effects of IL-1 on Human Keratinocytes & Endothelial Cells

The authors investigated IL-1-induced regulation of genes related to inflammation and atherogenesis in human keratinocytes and endothelial cells, and if diacerein, an oral IL-1 inhibiting drug currently approved for use in osteoarthritis, would reverse IL-1’s effects on these cells. Diacerein completely or partially reversed regulation on almost all genes. [PLoS One] Full Article

In Vitro Induction Effect of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ on Differentiation of Hair Follicle Stem Cell into Keratinocyte

The bulge hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) are pluripotent and able to convert to epithelial components after injury. Investigators found that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ induces the HFSCs’ differentiation into keratinocytes. [Biom J] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Significant Role of Collagen XVII and Integrin β4 in Migration and Invasion of the Less Aggressive Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Scientists studied the expression of laminin γ2, collagen XVII and integrin β4 in tissue microarray samples of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and its precursors, actinic keratosis and Bowen’s disease. The expression of laminin γ2 was highest in SCC samples, whereas the expression of collagen XVII and integrin β4 varied greatly in SCC and its precursors. Collagen XVII and integrin β4 were also expressed in SCC cell lines. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Impact on Autophagy and Ultraviolet B Induced Responses of Treatment with the MTOR Inhibitors Rapamycin, Everolimus, Torin 1, and pp242 in Human Keratinocytes

Investigators detected the mechanistic target of rapamycin (MTOR) signaling and autophagy response in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and human epidermal keratinocytes treated with MTOR inhibitors. They detected the impact of MTOR inhibitors on keratinocytes exposed to the common carcinogenic stressors ultraviolet (UV)B and UVA radiation. [Oxid Med Cell Longev] Full Article

Identification of Melanoma Cells: A Method Based in Mean Variance of Signatures via Spectral Densities

Researchers used a methodology to detect and differentiate melanoma cells from normal cells through 1D-signatures averaged variances calculated with a binary mask. They showed that melanoma cells present a well-defined range of averaged variances values obtained from the signatures in the four conditions used. [Biomed Opt Express] Full Article

Growth Hormone Receptor Knockdown Sensitizes Human Melanoma Cells to Chemotherapy by Attenuating Expression of ABC Drug Efflux Pumps

Scientists report that growth hormone (GH) action is a key mediator of chemotherapeutic resistance in human melanoma cells. They investigated multiple ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux pumps reportedly associated with melanoma drug resistance in different human melanoma cells and tested the efficacy of five different anti-cancer compounds with decreased GH action. They found that GH treatment of human melanoma cells upregulates expression of multiple ABC transporters and increases the EC₅₀ of melanoma drug vemurafenib. [Horm Cancer] Abstract

BRAF plus MEK-Targeted Drugs: A New Standard of Treatment for BRAF-Mutant Advanced Melanoma

The authors report the efficacy and safety outcomes of the combination of BRAF plus MEK inhibitors compared with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as to discuss future perspectives to improve outcomes based on current clinical and translational research studies. [Cancer Metastasis Rev] Abstract

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

FDA Grants Approval for BAVENCIO^® (Avelumab), the First Immunotherapy Approved for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

EMD Serono and Pfizer Inc. announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BAVENCIO^® injection 20 mg/mL, for intravenous use, for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. [Pfizer Inc.] Press Release

Allergan and Paratek Announce Positive Results from Two Phase III Trials of Sarecycline for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Acne

Allergan plc and Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that two Phase III trials of sarecycline for the treatment of moderate to severe acne met their 12 week primary efficacy endpoints. Sarecycline is a once-daily, oral, narrow spectrum tetracycline-derived antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties for the potential treatment of moderate to severe acne in the community setting. [Allergan plc] Press Release

Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Apexigen’s APX005M in Combination with Pembrolizumab (Keytruda^®) Opens for Metastatic Melanoma Patients

Apexigen, Inc. announced the initiation of patient enrollment in a Phase I/II clinical trial at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. This trial is designed to evaluate Apexigen’s CD40 agonistic antibody APX005M in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic melanoma. [Apexigen, Inc.] Press Release

Election Chaos at Russian Academy of Sciences

Academics at Russia’s premier science body have been left shocked and confused after an election that was supposed to determine the new president of the Russian Academy of Sciences was canceled at the last minute. [Nature News] Editorial

NIH Enables Investigators to Include Draft Preprints in Grant Proposals

Researchers should feel free to include preprints, or draft manuscripts that haven’t yet been gone through peer review, as part of their applications when they seek funding from the Bethesda, Maryland–based National Institutes of Health (NIH), the agency announced. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Data Check: NSF Sends Congress a Garbled Message on Misconduct Numbers

When a senior National Science Foundation (NSF) official told the House of Representatives science committee this month about a “significant rise in the number of substantive allegations” of research misconduct, her testimony set off alarm bells. Legislators from both parties were clearly disturbed by this trend, which had led to three dozen findings of misconduct a year, and asked what the Arlington, Virginia–based NSF was doing about it. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)
May 10-13, 2017
Washington, D.C., United States

NEW Keystone Symposium: Aging & Mechanisms of Aging-Related Disease
May 15-19, 2017
Yokohama, Japan

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Skin Epigenetics (Boston University)

NEW Researcher and Teacher – Skin and Venereal Diseases (Humanitas University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Assistant – Psoriasis (University of California, Davis)

NEW Two Postdoctoral Positions – Melanoma (Moffitt Cancer and Research Institute)

NEW Clinical Research Fellow – Melanoma (CRUK Manchester Institute)

Professorships – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Atopic Dermatitis (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Scholarship – Skin Immunology (Karolinska Institute)

Junior Research Group Leader – Analytics and Toxicology (The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment)

Postdoctoral – Tumor Biology (Helmholtz Association)

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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