Dermal Cell News Volume 4.06 | Feb 26 2018

TOP STORY

Highly Mutated Protein in Skin Cancer Plays Central Role in Skin Cell Renewal

Cells lining such organs as skin and the gut, lungs, and many other organs rely on a delicate balance of self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. However, disruption of this equilibrium may drive cancer and other disorders. Researchers have shown for the first time that a key protein called KMT2D involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression guides this renewal. [Press release from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University Pennsylvania discussing online prepublication in Genes & Development] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

β-Adrenergic Receptor Trafficking, Degradation, and Cell-Surface Expression Are Altered in Dermal Fibroblasts from Hypertrophic Scars

Scientists investigated the effect of burn injury on ß1-, ß2-, and ß3-adrenergic receptor expression, trafficking, and degradation in human dermal fibroblasts from hypertrophic scar, non-scar fibroblasts, and normal fibroblasts. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Phycocyanin Protects Against UVB-Induced Apoptosis through the PKC α/βII-Nrf-2/HO-1 Dependent Pathway in Human Primary Skin Cells

Researchers investigated whether phycocyanin prevented UVB-induced apoptotic cell death in human dermal fibroblasts and human epidermal keratinocytes. [Molecules] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Leptin Regulates the Pro-Inflammatory Response in Human Epidermal Keratinocytes

The whole-genome-scale microarray analysis was performed to elucidate the effect of leptin on epidermal keratinocyte functions. In the leptin-treated normal human keratinocytes, investigators identified the 151 upregulated and 53 downregulated differentially expressed genes. [Arch Dermatol Res] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Abl and Arg Mediate Cysteine Cathepsin Secretion to Facilitate Melanoma Invasion and Metastasis

The authors investigated the signaling pathways leading to increased cathepsin secretion in melanoma cells. They found that the nonreceptor tyrosine kinases Abl and Arg promoted the secretion of cathepsin B and cathepsin L by activating transcription factors that have key roles in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Neutralization of IL-17C Reduces Skin Inflammation in Mouse Models of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis

Researchers confirmed that interleukin-17C (IL-17C) is involved in psoriasis and explored potential roles for IL-17C in atopic dermatitis. An anti-IL-17C antibody, MOR106, was generated that potently and selectively binds to human and mouse IL-17C, thereby inhibiting the binding of IL-17C to its IL-17RE receptor. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

CXCL5 Facilitates Melanoma Cell-Neutrophil Interaction and Lymph Node Metastasis

To characterize the role of CXCL5 in melanoma progression, scientists established a metastasizing murine xenograft model using CXCL5 overexpressing (CXCL5ox) human melanoma cells. CXCL5 had no effect on melanoma proliferation in vitro and on primary tumor growth in vivo, but CXCL5ox tumors recruited high amounts of neutrophils and exhibited significantly increased lymphangiogenesis in our SCID mouse model. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

FOXQ1 Controls the Induced Differentiation of Melanocytic Cells

Researchers report that FOXQ1 induces differentiation in normal and transformed melanocytic cells at least partially via direct transcriptional activation of MITF gene, melanocytic lineage-specific regulator of differentiation. Importantly, they demonstrated that pigmentation induced in cultured melanocytic cells and in mice by activation of cAMP/CREB1 pathway depends in large part on FOXQ1. [Cell Death Dis] Abstract

Development of MK-8353, an Orally Administered ERK1/2 Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Scientists developed an orally bioavailable ERK inhibitor, MK-8353; conducted preclinical studies to demonstrate activity, pharmacodynamic endpoints, dosing, and schedule; completed a study in healthy volunteers; and subsequently performed a Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors. MK-8353 was well tolerated up to 400 mg twice daily and exhibited antitumor activity in patients with BRAF^V600-mutant melanoma. [JCI Insight] Full Article | Press Release

Stretching the Limits: From Homeostasis to Stem Cell Plasticity in Wound Healing and Cancer

Researchers delineate the multifactorial determinants and general principles underlying the remarkable facets of stem cell plasticity, which lend promise for regenerative medicine and cancer therapeutics. [Nat Rev Genet] Abstract

Role of the HGF/c-MET Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Metastasic Melanoma

The authors summarize the most important molecular mechanisms which were associated with the melanoma metastasis. Then, they specifically focus on the signaling pathway mediated by hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-Met, which play an important role during physiological processes and were been associated with tumorigenesis. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

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

AbbVie Presents New Late-Breaking Phase IIb Data on Upadacitinib in Atopic Dermatitis

AbbVie presented new positive results from a Phase IIb dose-ranging study evaluating upadacitinib, an investigational, once-daily oral JAK1-selective inhibitor, in adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. [Press release from AbbVie Inc. discussing research presented at the 2018 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, San Diego] Press Release

AbbVie Presents New Positive Late-Breaking Data from Two Phase III Psoriasis Trials of Risankizumab

AbbVie presented new positive results from the pivotal Phase III ultIMMa-1 and ultIMMa-2 replicate clinical trials that evaluated the safety and efficacy of risankizumab compared to placebo or ustekinumab. [Press release from AbbVie Inc. discussing research presented at the 2018 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, San Diego] Press Release

ARMS Medical and Tissue Regenix BioSurgery Sign Exclusive Distributor Agreement for DermaPure^® Allograft with dCELL^® Technology

ARMS Medical and Tissue Regenix BioSurgery announced they have entered into an exclusive distributor agreement for DermaPure^® dermal allograft. [Tissue Regenix (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

CollPlant Joins ReMDO’s Advanced Biomanufacturing Initiative for Development of a Universal BioInk for 3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs

CollPlant announced that it is part of ReMDO’s advanced biomanufacturing initiative for the development of a universal BioInk with tunable properties for 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs. [CollPlant (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Florida Residents Could Soon Get the Power to Alter Science Classes

Policymakers in the United States are pushing to give the public more power to influence what educators teach students. Florida’s legislature started considering two related bills that, if enacted, would let residents recommend which instructional materials teachers in their school district use in their classrooms. [Nature News] Editorial

National Science Foundation to Close Its Overseas Offices

A plan by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to close its overseas offices, first reported on the Science | Business website, is getting mixed reviews in the scientific community. The NSF announced it would shutter its outposts in Beijing, Brussels, and Tokyo by summer; two U.S. staff will return to the agency’s headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and local staff will be reassigned to U.S. embassies. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

One of the Most Powerful Science Policy Jobs in Brussels Changes Hands

It’s the end of an era at the European Commission’s research department: The most powerful civil servant in Brussels’s science policy circles, Director-General for Research and Innovation Robert-Jan Smits, is leaving his post. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Cell Death
August 5-10, 2018
Newry, Maine, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Wound Repair (Washington State University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (Indiana University School of Medicine)

Scientific Editor – Cancer Cell (Elsevier)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Biology (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

PhD Position – Melanoma (University of Luxembourg)

Director – Melanoma Global Value Evidence Leader (Merck)

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)

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

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