Dermal Cell News Volume 6.15 | Apr 27 2020

TOP STORY

Deficiency in Fibroblast PPARβ/δ Reduces Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers in Mice

Using chemically-induced skin carcinogenesis, researchers showed that FSPCre-Pparb/d^ex4 mice, whose Pparb/d gene was selectively deleted in fibroblasts, had delayed emergence and reduced tumor burden compared with control mice. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION

Long-Term Expansion of Directly Reprogrammed Keratinocyte-Like Cells and In Vitro Reconstitution of Human Skin

Investigators demonstrated an approach to generate human induced keratinocyte-like cells that could be directly reprogrammed from human somatic cells and extensively expanded in serum- and feeder cell-free systems [J Biomed Sci] Full Article

Human Keratinocyte UVB-Protective Effects of a Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan from Sargassum horneri Purified by Step Gradient Ethanol Precipitation

A low molecular weight fucoidan fraction treatment dose-dependently reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and increased the cell viability of ultraviolet B exposed HaCaT keratinocytes. [Antioxidants] Full Article

SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS

Melanoma-Associated Fibroblasts Impair CD8⁺ T Cell Function and Modify Expression of Immune Checkpoint Regulators via Increased Arginase Activity

Isolating melanoma-associated fibroblasts (MAFs) and dermal fibroblasts, the investigators showed that MAFs suppressed cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and revealed a pivotal role played by arginase in this phenomenon. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Circ_0002770, Acting as a Competitive Endogenous RNA, Promotes Proliferation and Invasion by Targeting miR-331-3p in Melanoma

Scientists identified a circular RNA, circ_0002770, which is produced from the well-known oncogene MDM2, and was sharply increased in melanoma and correlated with a poor prognosis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Activation of STAT3 Is a Key Event in TLR4 Signaling-Mediated Melanoma Progression

The authors identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation was a key event in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling-mediated melanoma progression, shedding new light on the pathophysiology of melanoma. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

BRAF Inhibition Curtails IFN-Gamma-Inducible PD-L1 Expression and Upregulates the Immunoregulatory Protein Galectin-1 in Melanoma Cells

In co-culture experiments, A375 melanoma cells pretreated with vemurafenib induced apoptosis of interacting jurkat T cells, whereas genetic inhibition of Gal-1 in these cells restored the viability of co-cultured T lymphocytes, indicating that Gal-1 contributed to tumor immune escape. [Mol Oncol] Abstract

Knockout of ACTB and ACTG1 with CRISPR/Cas9(D10A) Technique Shows that Non-Muscle β and γ Actin Are Not Equal in Relation to Human Melanoma Cells’ Motility and Focal Adhesion Formation

Scientists evaluated how melanoma cell motility was impacted by the lack of either β actin coded by ACTB or γ actin coded by ACTG1. Their results showed that both non-muscle β and γ actins played distinctive roles in melanoma cells’ focal adhesion formation and motility. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Tankyrase Inhibition Sensitizes Melanoma to PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Syngeneic Mouse Models

Researchers uncovered a combinatorial therapeutical strategy using tankyrase inhibition to overcome β-catenin-mediated resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in melanoma. [Commun Biol] Full Article

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Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Anti-PD-1 Treatment – A Systematic Review

The authors provide an overview of the various adverse cutaneous reactions to pembrolizumab and nivolumab therapy and offer suggestions for their management. [J Am Acad Dermatol] Abstract

The Skin Microbiota and Itch: Is There a Link?

The routes of communication between the microbiota and brain are slowly being unraveled and involve neurochemicals that originate from the microbiota itself. Researchers examined the possible means by which the skin microbiota contributes to itch. [J Clin Med] Abstract

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

Arcutis Announces Enrollment of First Patient in Phase I/IIb Study of ARQ-252 in Patients with Chronic Hand Eczema

Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. have announced that it has enrolled the first patient in Phase I/IIb study of ARQ-252, a potent and highly selective topical small molecule inhibitor of janus kinase type 1, in adult patients with chronic hand eczema. [Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Histogen Announces Investigational Device Exemption Application for HST 002

Histogen Inc. have announced that it has submitted an investigational device exemption application with the FDA for the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of HST 002 for the treatment of facial folds and wrinkles. [Histogen Inc.] Press Release

Untapped Potential: More US Labs Could Be Providing Tests for Coronavirus

A survey of more than 4,000 researchers in the United States suggested that better coordination at an institutional and national level could make hundreds of thousands more coronavirus tests available. [Nature News] Editorial

Director of US Agency Key to Vaccine Development Leaves Role Suddenly Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Rick Bright, one of the nation’s leading vaccine development experts and the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, is no longer leading the organization. [STAT News] Editorial

Open Science Takes On the Coronavirus Pandemic

When reports emerged in late 2019 of an outbreak of a new coronavirus centred in Wuhan, China, researchers at the virological-analysis website Nextstrain were ready. The open-source project tracked the spread of viruses through genetic variations in the sequences that scientists find. [Nature News] Editorial

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NEW PhD Position – Cutaneous Lymphoma (Karolinska Institute)

NEW Graduate Position – Molecular Oncology (BC Cancer Research Centre)

Medical Oncologist – Cutaneous Malignancies (Rush University Medical Center)

Senior Researcher – Oncology Biomarker Development (Genentech)

Postdoctoral Researcher (University of Erlangen)

Postdoctoral Position – Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (Research Institute – McGill University Health Centre)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Biomaterials and Nanotechnology in Regenerative Medicine (Guangzhou Medical University)

PhD Student Position – Skin and Single-Cell Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Inflammation and Infection Associated Lung and Skin Carcinogenesis (NIH National Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Research (The Ohio State University)

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