Dermal Cell News Volume 3.27 | Aug 14 2017

TOP STORY

Correction of Aberrant Growth Preserves Tissue Homeostasis

Scientists used intravital imaging to track the fate of mouse skin epithelium burdened with varying numbers of activated Wnt/β-catenin stem cells. They showed that all resulting growths that deform the skin tissue architecture regress, irrespective of their size. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Engineered Epidermal Progenitor Cells Can Correct Diet-Induced Obesity and Diabetes

Investigators developed skin grafts from mouse and human epidermal progenitors that were engineered by CRISPR-mediated genome editing to controllably release glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), a critical incretin that regulates blood glucose homeostasis. GLP-1 induction from engineered mouse cells grafted onto immunocompetent hosts increased insulin secretion and reversed high-fat-diet-induced weight gain and insulin resistance. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity Drives Hair Follicle Stem Cell Activation

The authors provide several lines of evidence to demonstrate that hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) utilize glycolytic metabolism and produce significantly more lactate than other cells in the epidermis. Lactate generation appears to be critical for the activation of HFSCs as deletion of lactate dehydrogenase prevented their activation. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

Self-Organization Process in Newborn Skin Organoid Formation Inspires Strategy to Restore Hair Regeneration of Adult Cells

Organoids made from dissociated progenitor cells undergo tissue-like organization. This in vitro self-organization process is not identical to embryonic organ formation, but it achieves a similar phenotype in vivo. Researchers used newborn and adult skin organoids for analyses. Dissociated cells from newborn mouse skin formed hair primordia-bearing organoids that grew hairs robustly in vivo after transplantation to nude mice. [‎Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Epilation Induces Hair and Skin Pigmentation through an EDN3/EDNRB-Dependent Regenerative Response of Melanocyte Stem Cells

The authors showed that after epilation of mice, melanocyte stem cells regenerate follicular and epidermal melanocytes, resulting in skin and hair hyperpigmentation. They showed that epilation leads to endogenous EDN3 upregulation in the dermal papilla, the secondary hair germ cells, and the epidermis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Bee-Derived Antibacterial Peptide, Defensin-1, Promotes Wound Re-Epithelialization In Vitro and In Vivo

Scientists demonstrated that keratinocytes are responsible for the elevated production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 after incubation with a water extract of royal jelly (RJ). Furthermore, the keratinocyte migration and wound closure rates were significantly increased in the presence of RJ extract. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Novel Role for the Testis-Enriched HSPA2 Protein in Regulating Epidermal Keratinocyte Differentiation

The authors showed that HSPA2 is expressed in basal epidermal keratinocytes, albeit not in keratinocytes exhibiting features attributed to primitive undifferentiated progenitors, and participates in the keratinocyte differentiation process. They found that HSPA2 is dispensable for protection of HaCaT keratinocytes against heat shock-induced cytotoxicity. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Vitamin D₃ Produced by Skin Exposure to UVR Inhibits Murine Basal Cell Carcinoma Carcinogenesis

Scientists found that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure of ionizing radiation-treated Ptch1^+/- mice accelerates basal cell carcinoma (BCC) carcinogenesis in male mice, in which UVR does not produce D₃. By contrast, in female mice, in which UVR does produce D₃, UVR failed to accelerate BCC carcinogenesis, thus mirroring the plateauing in humans. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Synergistic Anti-Tumor Effect of 17AAG with the PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 on Human Melanoma

Researchers investigated the phospho-proteomic profile of RTKs and its correlation with downstream signaling pathways in human melanoma. They found that tyrosine kinase receptors expression correlated with the expression of pivotal downstream components of the RAS/RAF/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways in melanoma cell lines and tumors. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

BET Bromodomain Inhibitors Synergize with ATR Inhibitors in Melanoma

To test the efficacy and molecular consequences of combination therapies, cultured melanoma cells were used. To assess tumor responses to therapies in vivo, investigators used patient-derived xenografts and B6 mice transplanted with B16F10 melanoma cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Low Dose Arsenite Confers Resistance to UV Induced Apoptosis via p53-MDM2 Pathway in Ketatinocytes

To investigate the details by low concentrations of arsenite and ultraviolet (UV) induced carcinogenesis in skin, hTERT-immortalized human keratinocytes were used as a cellular model with exposure to low concentrations of sodium arsenite and UV. Scientists found that the cell apoptosis induced by UV exposure was significantly attenuated after exposure to low-dose arsenite, and knockdown of p53 could block UV-induced apoptosis indicating that this phenomenon depended on p53. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Antitumor Activity of Resveratrol on Human Melanoma Cells: A Possible Mechanism Related to Its Interaction with Malignant Cell Telomerase

trans-Resveratrol (tRES) is a polyphenolic stilbene found in plant products which has attracted great attention because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Biological assays confirmed that growth inhibitory properties of tRES well correlate with the reduction of telomerase activity and hTERT gene transcript levels in human melanoma cells. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Nanomedicine and Advanced Technologies for Burns: Preventing Infection and Facilitating Wound Healing

The authors cover the physiology of skin, burn classification, burn wound pathogenesis, animal models of burn wound infection, and various topical therapeutic approaches designed to combat infection and stimulate healing. [Adv Drug Deliv Rev] Abstract

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

Stanford and Takeda Pharmaceuticals to Collaborate on Medicines of the Future

A new partnership between Stanford and one of the world’s oldest and largest drug makers, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., could help speed up the process of bringing drugs from discovery to market. [Stanford University] Press Release

Biology Professor Helping Military Fight Skin Cancer

Nicholas Wallace, assistant professor of biology, has received a $510,231 Career Development Award from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, which support collaborative research to deliver health care solutions for service members, veterans and the public. The grant will help Wallace investigate the role of human papillomavirus, or HPV, in skin cancer. [Kansas State University] Press Release

Researchers Rally around Science Advocate Convicted in Egypt

In a surprising outcome, an Egyptian judge sentenced Ismail Serageldin, founding director of Egypt’s Library of Alexandria, to 3.5 years in prison for financial misdemeanors. Serageldin has appealed the verdict, and more than 180 scientists, engineers, physicians, and public figures issued a declaration of support (in Arabic) on his behalf. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

US Biomedical-Research Facilities Unprepared for Attacks and Natural Disasters

Science panel says institutions need to do more to prevent and mitigate damage to research equipment and animals. [Nature News] Editorial

Thousands across India March in Support of Science

Thousands of scientists, university students and science enthusiasts gathered in dozens of Indian cities to march in support of science — lamenting their country’s low levels of funding for research, and complaining about government promotion of ‘unscientific ideas’. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 33^rd Ernst Klenk Symposium in Molecular Medicine
October 15-17, 2017
Cologne, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Melanoma (Harvard Medical School)

NEW PhD Studentship – Skin Cancer & Aging (CRUK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Immune Cells and Keratinocytes in Psoriasis (University of Geneva)

Postdoctoral Position – Skin Wound Healing and Inflammation (Inserm)

Research Technician – Adult Skin Stem Cells (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Post-Doc and Research Positions – In Vitro 3D Models of Diseased Skin (University of Minho)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Epithelial Stem Cell Biology (University of Michigan Healthcare System)

Group Leader – Melanoma (University of Lille Nord de France)

Associate Professor – Cancer Biology (NYU Langone School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular-Stromal Regulation in the Dermis (Weill Cornell Medicine)

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