Dermal Cell News Volume 3.21 | Jun 19 2017

TOP STORY

Newly Revealed Cellular Pathway May Lead to Cancer Therapies

Scientists discovered a new cellular pathway that can promote and support the growth of cancer cells. In a mouse model of melanoma, blocking this pathway resulted in reduction of tumor growth. This study offers a novel opportunity to develop drugs that could potentially inhibit this pathway in human cancer cells and help control their growth. [Press release from Baylor College of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Routing of the RAB6 Secretory Pathway towards the Lysosome Related Organelle of Melanocytes

Researchers showed that specialized cell types exploit and divert the secretory pathway towards lysosome related organelles. In cultured melanocytes, the secretory route relies on RAB6 and ELKS to directly transport and dock Golgi-derived carriers to melanosomes. By delivering specific cargos, such as MART-1 and TYRP2/DCT, the RAB6/ELKS-dependent secretory pathway controls the formation and maturation of melanosomes but also pigment synthesis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

A UV-Independent Topical Small-Molecule Approach for Melanin Production in Human Skin

The authors describe the development of small-molecule salt-inducible kinase inhibitors that were optimized for human skin penetration, resulting in microphthalmia-associated transcription factor upregulation and induction of melanogenesis. When topically applied, pigment production was induced in Mc1r-deficient mice and normal human skin. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Cells from Subcutaneous Tissues Contribute to Scarless Skin Regeneration in Xenopus laevis Froglets

Scientists crossed the inbred J strain with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled transgenic Xenopus line to obtain chimeric froglets that have GFP-negative skin and GFP-labeled subcutaneous tissues and are not affected by immune rejection after metamorphosis. They found that GFP-positive cells from subcutaneous tissues contributed to regenerating the skin, especially the dermis, after an excision injury. They also showed that the skin on the head, which is over bone rather than muscle, can also completely regenerate skin structures. [‎Dev Dyn] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Ascorbate Induces Apoptosis in Melanoma Cells by Suppressing Clusterin Expression

Researchers showed that ascorbate induced apoptosis in A2058 melanoma cells. RNA-seq analysis revealed that expression of the clusterin gene, which is related to apoptosis, was downregulated by ascorbate. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Different Signaling Patterns Contribute to Loss of Keratinocyte Cohesion Dependent on Autoantibody Profile in Pemphigus

Scientists characterized the mechanisms engaged by pemphigus IgG from patients with different clinical phenotypes and autoantibody profiles. All pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus IgG and AK23, a monoclonal mouse antibody against desmoglein, caused loss of cell cohesion, cytokeratin retraction and p38MAPK activation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Lipid Storage and Autophagy in Melanoma Cancer Cells

By using melanospheres established from human melanoma patients, investigators compared less differentiated melanosphere-derived cancer stem cells (CSCs) to differentiating melanosphere-derived cells. Increased lipid uptake was found in melanosphere-derived CSCs vs. differentiating melanosphere-derived cells, paralleled by strong expression of lipogenic factors sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Murine Melanoma Cells Incomplete Reprogramming Using Non-Viral Vector

The authors aimed to investigate the reprogramming capacity of murine melanoma B16F10 cells. Their results demonstrated that reprogramming of B16F10 may be induced using non-viral minicircle DNA containing the four reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Lin 28, Nanog and the green fluorescent protein reporter gene. [Cell Prolif] Abstract

Dual Addressing of Thymidine Synthesis Pathways for Effective Targeting of Proliferating Melanoma

Researchers examined the potential of blocking the thymidine de novo synthesis pathways for sensitizing melanoma cells to the nucleoside salvage pathway targeting endogenous DNA irradiation. [Cancer Med] Full Article

Targeting PI3K-AKT-mTOR by LY3023414 Inhibits Human Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Growth In Vitro and In Vivo

Investigators demonstrated that LY3023414 was cytotoxic when added to established (A431 line) and primary (patient-derived) human skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. LY3023414 induced G0/1-S arrest and inhibited proliferation of SCC cells. LY3023414 induced activation of caspase-3/-9 and apoptosis in SCC cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Engineering the Pre-Metastatic Niche

The authors outline the biology of the pre-metastatic niche and discuss advances in the engineering of niche-mimicking biomaterials that regulate the behaviour of tumor cells at an implant site. Such ‘oncomaterials’ offer strategies for the early detection of metastatic events, the inhibition of the formation of the pre-metastatic niche and the attenuation of metastatic progression. [Nat Biomed Eng] Full Article

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

Plant Advanced Technologies: Anti-Inflammatory Active Compound Presented

PAT1657, an innovative active pharmaceutical ingredient, proved its potential to treat skin inflammation pathologies. This drug candidate was presented for the first time. [Press release from Plant Advanced Technologies (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the BIO International Convention, San Diego] Press Release

LEO Science & Tech Hub Announce New Collaboration to Develop Technology for Minimally-Invasive Dermal Biomarker Assessment

LEO Science & Tech Hub announced a two-year collaboration with the Karp Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to develop minimally-invasive technology to advance dermal biomarker assessment. [LEO Science & Tech Hub (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

New Phase III Data Show Anti-TNF Alpha Simponi Aria^® (Golimumab) Significantly Improved Arthritis and Skin Manifestations in Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis

Janssen Research & Development, LLC announced results from the pivotal Phase III GO-VIBRANT study that showed the significant efficacy of the intravenously administered anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha therapy SIMPONI ARIA^® in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis. [Janssen Research & Development, LLC] Press Release

Macron Consolidates Electoral Victory

The party of France’s recently elected president won an absolute majority in its first general elections, with an agenda that included strong support for research. [Nature News] Editorial

Biologists Debate How to License Preprints

Biology’s zeal for preprints — papers posted online before peer review — is opening up a thorny legal debate: should scientists license their manuscripts on open-access terms? Researchers have now shared more than 11,000 papers at the popular bioRxiv preprints site. But where some researchers allow their bioRxiv manuscripts to be freely redistributed and reused, others have chosen to lock them down with restrictive terms. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Advances in Modeling Cancer in Mice: Technology, Biology, and Beyond
September 24-27, 2017
Orlando, Florida, United States

NEW Cold Spring Harbor Stem Cell Biology Meeting
September 25-27, 2017
Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Non-Coding RNAs and Skin Wound Healing (Karolinska Institutet)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Gene Regulation in Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration (Northwestern University)

PhD Candidate – Melanoma (University Medical Center Gottingen)

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

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

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

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (University of Toronto)

Professorship – Cancer Genomics (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

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

Postdoctoral Program – Melanoma (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

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