Dermal Cell News Volume 4.03 | Jan 29 2018

TOP STORY

Nanoparticle-Mediated Trapping of Wnt Family Member 5A in Tumor Microenvironments Enhances Immunotherapy for B-Raf Proto-Oncogene-Mutant Melanoma

Researchers hypothesized that Wnt family member 5A (Wnt5a) is a key molecule controlling the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in metastatic melanoma. A combination of Wnt5a trapping and low dose doxorubicin showed great tumor growth inhibition and host survival prolongation. [ACS Nano] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Ruxolitinib Protects Skin Stem Cells and Maintains Skin Homeostasis in Murine Graft-versus-Host Disease

Investigators studied the fate of Lgr5⁺ hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) after stem cell transplantation (SCT) and explored the novel treatment to protect Lgr5⁺ HFSCs against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) using murine models of SCT. They found that GVHD reduced Lgr5⁺ HFSCs in association with impaired hair follicle atrophy and wound healing in the skin after SCT. [Blood] Abstract

Leishmania Proteophosphoglycans Regurgitated from Infected Sand Flies Accelerate Dermal Wound Repair and Exacerbate Leishmaniasis via Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1-Dependent Signaling

Scientists found that promastigote secretory gel significantly accelerated wound healing in vitro and in mice; which was associated with an early up-regulation of transcripts involved in inflammation and inflammatory cell recruitment, followed six days later by enhanced expression of transcripts associated with epithelial cell proliferation, fibroplasia and fibrosis. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Accelerates Wound Healing Modulating MMP-9 and Inflammatory Cytokines

Investigators demonstrated that extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure enhances the proliferation of keratinocytes. They clarified effects of ELF-EMF on wound healing and molecular mechanisms involved, using a scratch in vitro model. [Cell Prolif] Abstract

Fabrication of Functionalized Citrus Pectin/Silk Fibroin Scaffolds for Skin Tissue Engineering

Novel porous three-dimensional scaffolds from silk fibroin and functionalized citrus pectin were developed for skin tissue engineering applications. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

The Protective Role of DOT1L in UV-Induced Melanomagenesis

Scientists demonstrated that, in contrast to MLL-rearranged leukemia, DOT1L plays a protective role in ultraviolet radiation-induced melanoma development. [Nat Commun] Full Article

SIRT1 Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Promoting Autophagic Degradation of E-Cadherin in Melanoma Cells

The authors report that SIRT1 induces the epithelial–mesenchymal transition by accelerating E-cadherin degradation via autophagy and facilitates melanoma metastasis. They found that SIRT1 expression was frequently elevated in metastatic melanoma compared with primary melanoma. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Inducibly Decreased MITF Levels Do Not Affect Proliferation and Phenotype Switching but Reduce Differentiation of Melanoma Cells

To exclude the changes occurring upstream of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) during MITF regulation in vivo, investigators employed a model whereby MITF expression was inducibly regulated by shRNA in melanoma cell lines. They found that the decrease in MITF caused only moderate attenuation of proliferation of the whole cell line population. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Sequential Decitabine and Carboplatin Treatment Increases the DNA Repair Protein XPC, Increases Apoptosis and Decreases Proliferation in Melanoma

To reduce methylation and induce DNA-damage, melanoma cell lines were treated with decitabine and carboplatin, individually and sequentially. Global DNA methylation levels, XPC mRNA and protein expression and methylation of the XPC promoter were examined. [BMC Cancer] Full Article

Cell Death-Based Treatments of Melanoma: Conventional Treatments and New Therapeutic Strategies

The authors analyze the various biological strategies underlying conventional chemotherapy as well as the most recently developed targeted therapies and immunotherapies, pointing at the molecular mechanisms of cell injury and death engaged by the different classes of therapeutic agents. [Cell Death Dis] Abstract

Galectin-3 Regulation of Wound Healing and Fibrotic Processes: Insights for Chronic Skin Wound Therapeutics

Galectin-3 has been implicated in several processes central to the wound healing response, specifically in the regulation of inflammation, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, fibroblast to myofibroblast transition and re-epithelialization. [J Cell Commun Signal] Abstract

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

UF Launches New Center for Regenerative Medicine

The University of Florida has launched a Center for Regenerative Medicine to develop lifesaving therapies “to heal the body from within” using stem cells that repair damaged tissue and organs. [University of Florida] Press Release

Researchers Receive $6.5 Million NIH Grant to Use Big Data to Tackle Psoriasis

An experienced interdisciplinary team of psoriasis and computational researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center has received a $6.5M, 5-year grant from the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. [Case Western Reserve University] Press Release

Computer Scientist to Lead French Research Giant; Interim Head Leaves Amid Misconduct Allegations

Computer scientist Antoine Petit, 57, is the new head of Europe’s largest research organization. There was an unusual twist to Petit’s appointment, however. A week before the official procedure ended, the French government named Petit interim president of the National Center for Scientific Research, a position that had been held by cell biologist Anne Peyroche since Fuchs’s departure. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Gender Bias Goes Away When Grant Reviewers Focus on the Science

But female scientists suffer when their research proposals are judged primarily on the strength of their CVs. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 8^th EACR-OECI Joint Course: Molecular Pathology Approach to Cancer
June 4-6, 2018
Amsterdam, Netherlands

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

NEW Director – Melanoma Global Value Evidence Leader (Merck)

Senior Research Associate – Melanoma, Skin and the UV Response (Lancaster University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Microbiology & Immunology (Johns Hopkins University)

Pioneer Award Postdoctoral Fellowships – Melanoma (University of Miami)

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)

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

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

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