Dermal Cell News Volume 3.18 | May 29 2017

TOP STORY

Stem Cell Plasticity Enables Hair Regeneration Following Lgr5⁺ Cell Loss

The authors investigated stem cell recovery in the context of the hair follicle to understand how two molecularly distinct stem cell populations are integrated. Utilizing diphtheria-toxin-mediated cell ablation of Lgr5⁺ (leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5) stem cells, they showed that killing of Lgr5⁺ cells in mice abrogates hair regeneration but this is reversible. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Role of Carbonic Anhydrases in Skin Wound Healing

The carbonic anhydrases (CAs) contribute to tumor cell migration by generating an acidic environment through the conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and a proton. Scientists explored the possible role of CAs in tissue regeneration using mouse skin wound models. [Mol Med] Full Article

In Vitro Skin Models to Study Epithelial Regeneration From the Hair Follicle

Scientists compared the ability of both intact pilosebaceous units or truncated hair follicles to regenerate a multilayered epidermis in vitro when implanted into de-epidermalized dermis or a collagen-glycosaminoglycan dermal equivalents (C-GAG) with the epidermis generated in vivo using C-CAG. [PLoS One] Full Article

In Vitro Skin Expansion: Wound Healing Assessment

For treatments requiring split-thickness skin grafts, it is preferable to mesh the grafts. This reduces the amount of excised skin and covers more wound area. The mesh technique, however, destroys surface continuity, which results in scarring. Researchers showed that strain-based bioreactors, on the other hand, have successfully expanded split-thickness skin grafts in vitro within a 7-day period, increasing graft coverage. [Wound Repair Regen] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

TWEAK Mediates Inflammation in Experimental Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis

Scientists showed that a deficiency of the TNF superfamily molecule TWEAK (TNFSF12) in mice results in defective maintenance of atopic dermatitis (AD)-specific T helper type 2 (Th2) and psoriasis-specific Th17 cells in the skin, and impaired expression of disease-characteristic chemokines and cytokines, such as CCL17 and TSLP in AD, and CCL20 and IL-19 in psoriasis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Deletion of ADAM-9 in HGF/CDK4 Mice Impairs Melanoma Development and Metastasis

ADAM-9 is a metalloproteinase expressed in peritumoral areas by invading melanoma cells and by adjacent peritumoral stromal cells; however, its function in stromal and melanoma cells is not fully understood. To address this question in vivo in a spontaneous melanoma model, researchers deleted ADAM-9 in mice carrying the hepatocyte growth factor transgene and knock-in mutation Cdk4R24C/R24C, demonstrated to spontaneously develop melanoma. [Oncogene] Abstract

Amlexanox Enhances Premature Termination Codon Read-Through in COL7A1 and Expression of Full Length Type VII Collagen: Potential Therapy for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Investigators tested the FDA-approved drug amlexanox for its ability to read-through premature termination codon (PTC) mutations in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patient derived cells. Eight of 12 different PTC alleles responded to treatment and produced full length protein, in some cases over 50% relative to normal controls. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Epigenetic Priming Restores the HLA Class-I Antigen Processing Machinery Expression in Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Investigators showed a reduced HLA class-I expression in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) tumor tissues and MCC cell lines. This reduced HLA class-I surface expression was caused by an impaired expression of key components of the antigen processing machinery, including LMP2 and LMP7 as well as TAP1 and TAP2. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Expression and Characterization of Membrane-Type 4 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT4-MMP) and its Different Forms in Melanoma

Scientists analyzed several human cancer cell lines as well as tissue homogenates using Western blotting and quantitative PCR for the expression of MT4-MMP. They found the MT4-MMP highly expressed in human melanoma cell lines as well as skin and melanoma tissue samples. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Abstract

Pterostilbene Protects Against UVB-Induced Photo-Damage Through a Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase-Dependent Nrf2/ARE Pathway in Human Keratinocytes

Researchers pretreated human keratinocytes with pterostilbene for 24 hours prior to UVB irradiation. Harvested cells were analyzed by MTT, DCFH-DA, comet, western blotting, luciferase promoter, small interference RNA transfection, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. [Redox Rep] Abstract

MEK Inhibitors in the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma and Solid Tumors

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is an intracellular signaling pathway involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation and the survival of tumor cells. Several different mutations, involving BRAF or NRAS, exert an oncogenic effect by activating the MAPK pathway, resulting in an increase in cellular proliferation. These mutations have become targets for new therapeutic strategies in melanoma and other cancers. [Am J Clin Dermatol] Abstract

Pediatric Psoriasis

The authors summarized the most relevant aspects, as well as updated information about the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, co-morbidities and treatment of pediatric psoriasis. [Am J Clin Dermatol] Abstract

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

Upside Biotechnologies Signs R&D Agreement with US Army for Engineered Skin Replacement

Upside Biotechnologies has signed a CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. The CRADA initiateed a collaboration between the two organizations on both the scientific and regulatory aspects of Upside’s engineered skin product development. [Upside Biotechnologies] Press Release

Sun Pharma Announces US FDA Filing Acceptance of Biologics License Application (BLA) For Tildrakizumab

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acceptance of the Biologics License Application for tildrakizumab. Tildrakizumab is an investigational IL-23p19 inhibitor being evaluated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. [Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd] Press Release

NIH Scales Back Plan to Curb Support for Big Labs after Hearing Concerns

Faced with a barrage of criticism, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has scaled back a plan to cap its support for individual labs in order to free up funds for more scientists. The changes did not appease scientists who gave NIH a tongue-lashing at a meeting of NIH’s Council of Councils. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

House Science Panel Joins Trump in Questioning Research Overhead Payments

A hearing on how the U.S. government defrays the cost of doing federally funded research on college campuses might put most people to sleep. But when budgets are tight, the billions of dollars being spent each year on so-called overhead become an irresistible target for lawmakers. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Worldwide Innovative Networking in Personalized Cancer Medicine (WIN) 2017
June 26-27, 2017
Paris, France

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
July 23-28, 2017
Holderness, United States

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

NEW Research Assistant – Melanoma (King’s College London)

NEW Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Oncogene Biology (The Francis Crick Institute)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Skin Cancer and Other Skin Diseases (Boston University)

NEW Assistant Professor – Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (Harvard University)

NEW Data Scientist – Epithelial Cancer Evolution (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (University of Toronto)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Wound Healing & Regenerative Medicine (University of Miami)

Professorship – Cancer Genomics (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

Postdoctoral Program – Melanoma (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skin Stem Cells (Columbia University Medical Center)

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