Dermal Cell News Volume 4.24 | Jul 16 2018

TOP STORY

Toward Minimal Residual Disease-Directed Therapy in Melanoma

Scientists identified distinct drug-tolerant transcriptional states, varying combinations of which co-occurred within minimal residual disease (MRD) from PDXs and biopsies of patients on treatment. An RXR antagonist mitigated accumulation of neural crest stem cells in MRD and delayed the development of resistance. [Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Acceleration of Diabetic Wound Regeneration Using an In Situ-Formed Stem-Cell-Based Skin Substitute

Human adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) were encapsulated into the in situ crosslinked hydrogels and cultured in a 3D topography. The encapsulated cells were well attached and spread inside the hydrogels, retaining viability, proliferation, and metabolic activity up to three weeks in vitro. It was found that stem cell retention was significantly improved in vivo with vehicle‐mediated delivery. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

Tunable Enzymatically Cross‐Linked Silk Fibroin Tubular Conduits for Guided Tissue Regeneration

A new methodology to produce enzymatically cross‐linked silk fibroin tubular conduits (TCs) is described, which took advantage of the tyrosine groups present in silk structure that are known to allow the formation of a covalently cross‐linked hydrogel. The final microstructure ranged from a nonporous to a highly porous network, allowing the TCs to be selectively porous to 4 kDa molecules, but not to human skin fibroblasts. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

Calycosin Alleviates Allergic Contact Dermatitis by Repairing Epithelial Tight Junctions via Down-Regulating HIF-1α

Calycosin decreased the expression of HIF‐1α and repaired tight junctions (TJs) both in vivo and in vitro. In HaCaT keratinocytes, researchers noted that IL‐1β induced the deterioration of TJs, as well as the increased levels of TSLP and IL‐33, which could be reversed by silencing HIF‐1α. Administration of 2‐methoxyestradiolin, a HIF‐1α inhibitor, significantly repaired the TJs and alleviated the allergic inflammation in vivo. [J Cell Mol Med] Abstract | Full Article

Effects of Collagen-Derived Bioactive Peptides and Natural Antioxidant Compounds on Proliferation and Matrix Protein Synthesis by Cultured Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Collagen peptides significantly increased fibroblast elastin synthesis, while significantly inhibiting release of MMP-1 and MMP-3 and elastin degradation. The positive effects of the collagen peptides on these responses and on fibroblast proliferation were enhanced in the presence of the antioxidant constituents of the products. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Exosomes from Acellular Wharton’s Jelly of the Human Umbilical Cord Promotes Skin Wound Healing

The authors isolated exosomes and treated fibroblasts with these exosomes to assess their proliferation and migration. They showed that the exosomes isolated from the acellular gelatinous Wharton’s jelly enhanced cell viability and cell migration in vitro and enhanced skin wound healing in the punch biopsy wound model in mice. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Bone Marrow-Derived versus Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Wound Healing: Value and Route of Administration

Investigators revealed that adipose stem cell groups had statistically significant improvement in inflammation, granulation tissue re-organization, and collagen deposition relative to their bone marrow-treated counterparts. The intradermally treated adipose stem cell group demonstrated the most supreme features regarding the expression of the proliferation-related surface markers Ki67 and CD71 as well as in the expression of CD90 in keratinocytes and hair follicle dermal sheaths. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

The Metastatic Microenvironment: Melanoma‐Microglia Cross‐Talk Promotes the Malignant Phenotype of Melanoma Cells

Melanoma cells exerted significant morphological changes on microglia cells, enhanced proliferation, induced matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) activation and cell migration. Microglia cells induced phenotypic changes in melanoma cells increasing their malignant phenotype: increased melanoma proliferation, MMP‐2 activity, cell migration, brain endothelial penetration, and tumor cells ability to grow as spheroids in 3D cultures. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Conditions Affect the Proteome of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Researchers studied the extra- and intracellular proteomic response of skin fibroblast isolated from healthy volunteers in comparison to cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) on 3D culture conditions. Both, control cells and CAF changed their proteomic composition based on the culture conditions. Cell type differences observed in 2D were often not preserved in 3D, which commonly closer resemble phenotypes observed in vivo. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

Myosin X Is Required for Efficient Melanoblast Migration and Melanoma Initiation and Metastasis

Knockdown of Myo10 (Myo10kd) in B16F1 mouse melanoma cell lines decreased lung colonization after tail-vein injection. Myo10kd also inhibited long protrusion formation by reducing the transportation of its cargo molecule vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein to the leading edge of migrating cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Compromised Vitamin D Receptor Signaling in Malignant Melanoma Is Associated with Tumor Progression and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activity

Malignant melanoma (MM) cell lines were investigated to show the subcellular location of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and cell viability in response to ligand ± MAPK inhibitor. Benign melanocytic naevi showed mainly a strong nuclear VDR staining in contrast to MM where decreased nuclear and emergent cytoplasmic VDRs were associated with malignant progression in terms of dermal invasion and metastasis. [Melanoma Res] Abstract

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Extracellular Matrix News & Cancer Stem Cell News.

PPARβ/δ: Linking Metabolism to Regeneration

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) β/δ—which is known to be involved for example in lipid catabolism, glucose homeostasis, inflammation, survival, proliferation, differentiation, as well as mammalian regeneration of the skin, bone and liver—appears to be a promising target to promote mammalian regeneration. The authors summarize the current knowledge of PPARβ/δ in processes associated with wound healing and regeneration. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Cancer Initiation and Progression within the Cancer Microenvironment

To understand the growth, proliferation and progression of cancer either by local expansion and/or metastasis, it is important to understand the cancer microenvironment and host response to cancer growth. Melanoma is an excellent model to study the interaction of cancer initiation and growth in relationship to its microenvironment. [Clin Exp Metastasis] Abstract

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

Krystal Biotech to Present Update on KB103 Program for Treatment of Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Krystal Biotech Inc., announces a presentation on the company’s lead product candidate, KB103, the first-ever topically-applied gene therapy being developed for the treatment of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. [Press release from Krystal Biotech discussing research to be presented at the 2018 debra Care Conference (DCC), Chandler] Press Release

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines Recommend BRAFTOVI^™ (Encorafenib) in Combination with MEKTOVI^® (Binimetinib) as a Category 1 Treatment Option for Patients with Advanced BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

Array BioPharma Inc. announced that the NCCN has updated the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Melanoma to include BRAFTOVI^™ in combination with MEKTOVI^™ as a Category 1 first-line and second-line treatment option for patients with BRAF^V600E or BRAF^V600K-mutant metastatic or unresectable melanoma. [Array BioPharma] Press Release

Roivant Subsidiary Dermavant Sciences Signs Agreement with GSK to Purchase Rights to Tapinarof

GSK announced that Dermavant Sciences has agreed to purchase the rights to tapinarof, an investigational therapeutic aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulating agent for the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis and back-up programs for a total consideration of £250 million, including an initial payment of £150 million and a potential future milestone payment of £100 million. [Dermavant Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

UCB Seals Manufacturing Deal with Samsung

The new deal covers the development and commercial manufacturing of an investigational product currently being developed for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. [UCB S.A.] Press Release

Science Journals End Open-Access Trial With Gates Foundation

The trial was an effort to accommodate a policy clash between the Gates Foundation, which has enforced strict open-access demands since 2017, and publishers that run subscription journals which don’t comply with those terms. [Nature News] Editorial

It’s Time to Burst the Biomedical Bubble in UK Research

A new study calls for a rebalancing of research and innovation funding to better meet the UK’s economic, social and health needs. [The Guardian] Editorial

Petition Asks AAAS to Remove Fellows With Sexual Harassment Records

A petition by members of the scientific community asks the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to remove fellows who have been found guilty of sexual harassment or assault. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Melanoma 2019: 29^th Annual Cutaneous Malignancy Update
January 26-27, 2019
San Diego, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Glycobiology of Cancer & Immunology (Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School)

NEW Associate Professorships – Regenerative Medicine (University of Pavia)

Tenure-Track Faculty Positions – Immunology or Cancer Research (University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Gene Regulation and/or Cancer Biology (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Skin Cancer Biology (The University of Colorado)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (NYU Langone Medical Center)

NEW Head of Human Clinical Development – Oncology & Wound Healing (QBiotics Group Limited)

Associate Professor or Professor – Skin Cancer (The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Psoriasis Research (Case Western Reserve University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Melanoma (Ghent University)

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

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.