Dermal Cell News Volume 4.26 | Jul 30 2018

TOP STORY

Tumor Promoter TPA Activates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in a Casein Kinase 1-Dependent Manner

TPA stabilized casein kinase 1 (CK1) ε and enhanced its kinase activity. Treatment with a selective CK1ε/δ inhibitor SR3029 suppressed TPA-induced skin tumor formation in vivo, probably through blocking Wnt/β-catenin signaling. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

The Mesenchymal Niche of the Hair Follicle Induces Regeneration by Releasing Primed Progenitors from Inhibitory Effects of Quiescent Stem Cells

Investigators showed that the mesenchymal niche of the hair follicle, the dermal papilla, governed the properties of quiescent stem cells in the bulge despite its relatively distant location. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

A Frog Cathelicidin Peptide Effectively Promotes Cutaneous Wound Healing in Mice

A novel 24-residue peptide (cathelicidin-NV) belonging to the cathelicidin family was identified from the skin of plateau frog Nanorana ventripunctata. Cathelicidin-NV showed strong wound healing-promoting activity in a murine model with full thickness dermal wound. [Biochem J] Abstract | Full Article

Are the Effects of the Cholera Toxin and Isoproterenol on Human Keratinocytes’ Proliferative Potential Dependent on Whether They Are Co-Cultured With Human or Murine Fibroblast Feeder Layers?

When culturing human keratinocytes, using human fibroblasts over murine fibroblasts increased population doublings and colony-forming efficiency through signaling pathways involving Ak mouse strain thymoma isoforms 1 to 3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, p53, and adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase α1. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Glucosamine Abrogates the Stem Cell Factor + Endothelin-1-Induced Stimulation of Melanogenesis via a Deficiency in MITF Expression Due to the Proteolytic Degradation of CREB in Human Melanocytes

The stem cell factor + endothelin-1 (SE)-stimulated gene and protein expression levels of melanocyte-specific proteins were significantly abrogated by pretreatment with glucosamine (GlcN) for 72 h. Analysis of gene and protein expression levels demonstrated that pretreatment with GlcN for 72 h significantly reduced the protein levels of CREB and MITF without affecting their gene expression levels prior to the SE stimulation. [Arch Dermatol Res] Abstract

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Activation of S6 Signaling Is Associated With Cell Survival and Multinucleation in Hyperplastic Skin after Epidermal Loss of AURORA-A Kinase

Researchers deleted the mitotic Kinase Aurora-A (Aur-A) in hyperplastic mutant p53 mouse skin as an experimental tool to study the G2/M transition in precancerous keratinocytes and AUR-A’s role in this process. Epidermal Aur-A deletion (Aur-A^epiΔ) led to marked keratinocyte enlargement, pleomorphism, multinucleation, and attenuated induction of cell death. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Regulation of the Adaptation to ER Stress by KLF4 Facilitates Melanoma Cell Metastasis via Upregulating NUCB2 Expression

Scientists demonstrated that KLF4 was induced by ER stress in melanoma cells, and increased KLF4 inhibited cell apoptosis and promoted cell metastasis. Further mechanistic studies revealed that KLF4 directly bound to the promoter of nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2), facilitating its transcription. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Caffeine Modulates Growth and Vitality of Human Melanotic COLO829 and Amelanotic C32 Melanoma Cells: Preliminary Findings

Results indicated the ability of caffeine to induce reduced thiols depletion and pro-apoptotic effect selectively in melanoma cells. The COLO829 cell line was shown to be more susceptible to the studied methylxanthine in comparison to C32 cells. [Food Chem Toxicol] Abstract

Bornyl cis-4-Hydroxycinnamate Suppresses Cell Metastasis of Melanoma through FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK Signaling Pathways and Inhibition of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

Investigators demonstrated that bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate was a potentially useful agent that inhibited melanoma cell migration and invasion, and altered melanoma cell metastasis by reducing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression through inhibition of the FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, and GRB2 signaling pathways. Bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate inhibited the process of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in A2058 and A375 melanoma cells. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

In Vitro and In Vivo Apatinib Inhibits Vasculogenic Mimicry in Melanoma MUM-2B Cells

Short-term apatinib treatment inhibited angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry formation, and tumor growth in models of melanoma cancer. Mice in apatinib-treated groups showed a markedly reduced expression of VEGFR-2, ERK-1/2, PI3K, and MMP-2. [PLoS One] Full Article

RIP4 Upregulates CCL20 Expression through STAT3 Signaling in Cultured Keratinocytes

Scientists found that receptor-interacting protein kinase 4 (RIP4) expression was significantly increased in the lesional skin of psoriasis. The transcriptional activity of STAT3 induced by RIP4 regulated IL-17 mediated CCL20 expression in HaCaT cells. [Exp Dermatol] Abstract

The RUNX1/IL-34/CSF-1R Axis Is an Autocrinally Regulated Modulator of Resistance to BRAF-V600E Inhibition in Melanoma

Loss of methylation and associated overexpression of the CSF 1 receptor (CSF1R) was seen in a majority of tumors and was driven by an alternative, endogenous viral promoter in a subset of samples. CSF1R was particularly elevated in melanomas with BRAF and other MAPK activating mutations. Inhibition of CSF-1R kinase or decreased CSF-1R expression by RNAi reduced 3-D growth and invasiveness of melanoma cells. [JCI Insight] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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3D Bioprinting of Skin Tissue: From Pre-Processing to Final Product Evaluation

The authors provide a thorough review of current 3D bioprinting technologies used to engineer human skin constructs and presents the overall pipelines of designing a biomimetic artificial skin via 3D bioprinting from the design phase through the tissue maturation phase and into final product evaluation for drug screening, development, and drug delivery applications. [Adv Drug Deliv Rev] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Preconditioning: The Next Step towards a Customized Treatment For Severe Burn

Investigators provide an up-to-date outlook of the pathophysiology of severe skin burns, clinical treatment modalities and current limitations. They then focus on mesenchymal stromal cells and their potential in the burn wound healing both in in vitro and in vivo studies. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

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

Castle Biosciences Presents Data Demonstrating the DecisionDx-Melanoma Test Improved AJCC-Based Risk Prediction for Melanoma Recurrence and Metastasis

Castle Biosciences, Inc. announced the presentation of new data showing that the DecisionDx^®-Melanoma test improved risk prediction beyond that using American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) based staging. [Press release from Castle Biosciences, Inc. discussing research presented at DERM2018 NP/PA CME Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada] Press Release

Sienna Biopharmaceuticals Successfully Completes Maximal Use Safety Study of SNA-120 in Patients with Itch Associated with Psoriasis

Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced results from a Phase Ib maximal use pharmacokinetic and safety study of SNA-120, a Phase IIb drug candidate being evaluated as a topical, nonsteroidal therapy to treat itch associated with psoriasis. [Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Immune Pharmaceuticals Receives Positive Opinion for Orphan Drug Designation in the European Union for Bertilimumab for the Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid

Immune Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products of the European Medicines Agency has issued a positive opinion on the Company’s application for Orphan Drug Designation for bertilimumab for the treatment of bullous pemphigoid. [Immune Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Pierre Fabre Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for BRAFTOVI^® (Encorafenib) + MEKTOVI^® (Binimetinib) in Adult Patients with Advanced BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

Pierre Fabre announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of BRAFTOVI^® (encorafenib) and MEKTOVI^® (binimetinib) in combination for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF^V600 mutation. [The Pierre Fabre Group (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Novartis Combination Tafinlar^® + Mekinist^® Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for Adjuvant Treatment of BRAF V600 Mutation-Positive Melanoma

Novartis announced the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of Tafinlar^® in combination with Mekinist^® for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with stage III melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation, following complete resection. [Novartis AG] Press Release

KEYTRUDA^® (Pembrolizumab) Is the First Anti-PD-1 Therapy Approved in China for Advanced Melanoma

Merck announced that KEYTRUDA^®, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, has been approved by the China National Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma following failure of one prior line of therapy. This is the first and only approval of an anti-PD-1 therapy for advanced melanoma in China. [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release

Elsevier/Impactstory Agreement Will Make Open Access Articles Easier to Find on Scopus

With Elsevier’s new partnership with Impactstory, researchers will soon be able to find open access content on Scopus more efficiently. Meanwhile, for university research offices, the expansion of OA-identified content in Scopus will enable improved strategic analysis and benchmarking. [Elsevier] Editorial

Springer Nature Creates New Role to Lead On Research Integrity

As one of the largest publishers of academic research, Springer Nature has developed a new position of Research Integrity Director to ensure the growing volume of scientific content being published continues to be rigorously assessed, with robust processes in place to prevent and address research misconduct and breaches of publication ethics. [Springer Nature] Editorial

Government of Canada further Strengthens Science and Encourages Scientists to Speak About Their Work

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, and the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government, welcomed the Model Policy on Scientific Integrity. The new policy will be shared with federal departments and agencies that employ scientists and researchers. These departments and agencies will use the model policy to develop their own scientific integrity policies that meet their departmental and employee needs. [Government of Canada] Editorial

NEW 11^th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) Joint Conference
February 8-12, 2019
Maui, Hawaii, United States

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

NEW Post-Doctoral Scientist – Novel T Cell Based Cancer Therapies (Netherlands Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Epidermal Stem Cell Biology (University of California San Diego School of Medicine)

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

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)

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

Postdoctoral Researcher – Melanoma (Ghent University)

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

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