Dermal Cell News Volume 4.01 | Jan 15 2018

TOP STORY

Rare Melanoma Type Highly Responsive to Immunotherapy

Researchers report that patients with desmoplastic melanoma are more responsive to immune-activating anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies than previously assumed. [Press release from the Moffitt Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Temporal Layering of Signaling Effectors Drives Chromatin Remodeling during Hair Follicle Stem Cell Lineage Progression

Exploiting the synchronized, cyclical bouts of tissue regeneration in hair follicles, scientists investigated how microenvironment dynamics shape the emergence of stem cell lineages. Employing epigenetic and ChIP-seq profiling, they uncovered how signal-dependent transcription factors couple spatiotemporal cues to chromatin dynamics, thereby choreographing stem cell lineages. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Wound Regeneration Deficit in Rats Correlates with Low Morphogenetic Potential and Distinct Transcriptome Profile of Epidermis

Researchers established rats as a non-regenerating rodent model for excisional wound healing and suggested that low epidermal competence and associated transcriptional profile may contribute to its regenerative deficiency. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Piperonylic Acid Stimulates Keratinocyte Growth and Survival by Activating Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)

Scientists revealed the EGF-like activity of piperonylic acid and proposed that the piperonylic acid could be a promising component for skin wound healing agents or cosmetic ingredient. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Introduction of Exogenous HSV-TK Suicide Gene Increases Safety of Keratinocyte-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells by Providing Genetic “Emergency Exit” Switch

Investigators present an approach for increasing induced pluripotent stem cells safety by introducing genetic modification—exogenous suicide gene Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase (HSV-TK). Its expression resulted in specific vulnerability of genetically modified cells to prodrug—ganciclovir (GCV). They showed that HSV-TK expressing cells can be eradicated both in vitro and in vivo with high specificity and efficiency with low doses of GCV. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

TNF Blockade Induces a Dysregulated Type I Interferon Response without Autoimmunity in Paradoxical Psoriasis

Investigators showed that skin lesions from patients with paradoxical psoriasis are characterized by a selective overexpression of type I interferons, dermal accumulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and reduced T-cell numbers, when compared to classical psoriasis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Targeting Melanoma Stem Cells with the Vitamin E Derivative δ-Tocotrienol

Scientists observed that A375 (but not BLM) cells are able to form melanospheres and showed cancer stem cell traits: expression of the pluripotency markers SOX2 and KLF4, higher invasiveness and tumor formation capability in vivo with respect to parental adherent cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Identification and Functional Analysis of SOX10 Phosphorylation Sites in Melanoma

The authors present data that support phosphorylation as a mechanism employed by melanoma cells to tightly regulate SOX10 expression. [PLoS One] Full Article

M1-Like Macrophages Change Tumor Blood Vessels and Microenvironment in Murine Melanoma

Researchers demonstrated that combination of endoglin-based DNA vaccine with interleukin 12 repolarizes tumor-associated macrophages from tumor growth-promoting M2-like phenotype to tumor growth-inhibiting M1-like phenotype. [PLoS One] Full Article

Effect of shRNA Mediated Silencing of YB-1 Protein on the Expression of Matrix Collagenases in Malignant Melanoma Cell In Vitro

Investigators aimed to knock down the expression of YB-1 in A375 malignant melanoma cancer cell using the shRNA approach and study its effect on cancer cell proliferation, migration, and expression of collagenases. [Cells] Full Article

Scanning the Immunopathogenesis of Psoriasis

The authors provide a comprehensive overview on the immune-mediated mechanisms characterizing the current pathogenic model of psoriasis. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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

Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine and Arcutis Announce a Development and Commercialization Partnership for Novel Immune-Mediated Dermatology Therapy Using SHR0302

Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. and Arcutis, Inc. announced an exclusive option and license agreement for the development and commercialization of topical applications of Hengrui’s investigational drug, SHR0302, for the treatment of dermatology disorders. SHR0302, a highly potent, selective JAK inhibitor, is currently being evaluated in Phase II clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis in China. [Arcutis, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

SkinCure Oncology Announces Delivery of Its 46^th Image Guided Superficial Radiation Device for Skin Cancer Treatment

SkinCure Oncology, the world-wide leader in providing a turnkey model for the delivery of Superficial Radiation Therapy for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers, announced it has taken delivery of its 46^th image guided superficial radiation therapy system. [SkinCure Oncology (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

South Korean Universities Reach Agreement with Elsevier after Long Standoff

After a months-long standoff, a consortium of hundreds of South Korean universities has reached a new deal with scientific publisher Elsevier for access to ScienceDirect, a database containing content from 3,500 academic journals and thousands of electronic books. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Rising Star Appointed UK Science Minister

The United Kingdom has gained a new science minister as part of a broader reshuffle of government posts. Sam Gyimah, who moves from the Ministry of Justice, was appointed minister for universities and science, replacing Jo Johnson. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The Stem Cell Niche Conference 2018
May 27-31, 2018
Copenhagen, Denmark

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

NEW Pioneer Award Postdoctoral Fellowships – Melanoma (University of Miami)

NEW PhD or Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Repair, Stem Cell Fate and Tumor Heterogeneity (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

PhD Studenship – Skin Cancer (University of Salzburg)

Professor – Dermatology and Venereology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Positions – Gene Regulation and/or Cancer Biology (University of North Carolina)

PhD Studentships – Melanoma (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Research Assistant – Melanoma Medical Oncology (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – Melanoma (University of Miami)

Faculty Positions – Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Sun Yat-Sen University)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Cancer/Stem Cell Biology (Stanford University)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Dermal Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.