Intestinal Cell News Volume 1.11 | Jun 5 2015

KIT Signaling Promotes Growth of Colon Xenograft Tumors in Mice and Is Upregulated in a Subset of Human Colon Cancers
Scientists found that KIT and KITLG are expressed by a subset of human colon tumors. KIT signaling promotes growth of colon cancer cells and organoids in culture and xenograft tumors in mice via its ligand, KITLG, in an autocrine or paracrine manner. [Gastroenterology] Abstract

BCL-3 Expression Promotes Colorectal Tumorigenesis through Activation of AKT Signaling
Researchers report increased B-cell CLL/lymphoma 3 (BCL-3) expression in human colorectal cancers and demonstrated that BCL-3 expression promotes tumor cell survival in vitro and tumor growth in mouse xenografts in vivo, dependent on interaction with nuclear factor-κB p50 or p52 homodimers. [Gut] Full Article

POU2F2-Oriented Network Promotes Human Gastric Cancer Metastasis
Researchers investigated the role and mechanism of POU2F2 in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis in gastric epithelial cells, GC cell lines and an experimental metastasis animal model by gain of function and loss of function. [Gut] Full Article

In Vivo Epigenetic Reprogramming of Primary Human Colon Cancer Cells Enhances Metastases
Using primary human colon cancer cells engrafted in mice, investigators found that transient expression of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4+/-, and cMYC established an enhanced, pro-metastatic state in the primary tumor that was stable through sequential engraftments and was transmitted through clonogenic cancer stem cells. [J Mol Cell Biol] Abstract | Full Article

Intestinal MTOR Regulates GLP-1 Production in Mouse L Cells
Scientists investigated whether intestinal mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) production in L cells. They found that fasting downregulated mTOR activity, which was associated with a decrement of intestinal proglucagon and circulating GLP-1 and overexpression of mTOR stimulated proglucagon promoter activity and GLP-1 production. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Tumor-Specific Th2 Responses Inhibit Growth of CT26 Colon-Cancer Cells in Mice via Converting Intratumor Regulatory T Cells to Th9 Cells
Investigators showed that with colon cancer (Cca) cell extracts as an antigen, the Cca-extract specific Th2 response was induced in the Cca-bearing mice. The Cca mass size was significantly reduced, or radically disappeared; the survival rate was markedly improved in mice immunized with Cca-extract. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Impact of Food Components during In Vitro Digestion of Silver Nanoparticles on Cellular Uptake and Cytotoxicity in Intestinal Cells
The authors investigated the influence of the digestion process on the toxicity and cellular uptake of silver nanoparticles for intestinal cells. [Biol Chem] Abstract

Transcriptome-Wide Analysis Reveals Hallmarks of Human Intestine Development and Maturation In Vitro and In Vivo
Researchers observed that genes involved in digestive tract development are enriched in both fetal intestine and human intestinal organoids compared to adult tissue, whereas genes related to digestive function and Paneth cell host defense are expressed at higher levels in adult intestine. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article

INTESTINAL STEM CELL & ORGANOID RESEARCH

Gut–Neuron Interaction via Hh Signaling Regulates Intestinal Progenitor Cell Differentiation in Drosophila
The authors report that neurons regulated Drosophila posterior intestinal homeostasis. Specifically, downregulation of neuronal Hedgehog (Hh) signaling inhibited the differentiation of intestinal stem cells toward enterocytes, whereas upregulated neuronal Hh signaling promoted such process. [Cell Disc] Full Article

Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation and Epithelial Homeostasis in the Adult Drosophila Midgut
The authors review the current knowledge of the main mechanisms involved in the regulation of tissue homeostasis in the adult Drosophila midgut, with a focus on the role of stem cells in this process. [Insect Biochem Mol Biol] Abstract

MicroRNAs in Tumorigenesis, Metastasis, Diagnosis and Prognosis of Gastric Cancer
The authors highlight the advancements which might provide new methods for early clinical diagnosis and effective therapeutic options, along with predict response to treatment for gastric cancer. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

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

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Astellas and Anokion to Collaborate on Immune Tolerance Therapeutics
Astellas Pharma Inc. and Anokion SA announced an agreement to collaborate in the fields of type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. A new company, Kanyos Bio, Inc. has been created to develop clinical candidates in the two selected indications, with an option for Astellas to add a third autoimmune indication as part of the collaboration. [Astellas Pharma Inc.] Press Release

Amgen Announces Collaboration with Roche on Cancer Immunotherapy Study with Investigational Medicines Talimogene Laherparepvec and Atezolizumab
Amgen announced a collaboration with Roche on a Phase Ib study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of talimogene laherparepvec, Amgen’s investigational oncolytic immunotherapy, in combination with Roche’s investigational anti-PDL1 therapy, atezolizumab, in patients with triple-negative breast cancer and colorectal cancer with liver metastases. [Amgen Inc.] Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Intestinal Diseases (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)

NEW Senior Associate Scientist (Amgen)

Research Associate, Intestinal Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology Endoderm Lineages (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Colon Cancer Biology, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Intestinal Development (Rutgers University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immunology (University of Toronto)

Postdoctoral Position – Cellular and Mucosal Immunology (University of Pennsylvania)

Senior Associate Scientist – Inflammation Research (Amgen)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Colon Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics and Chemoprevention (Baylor Scott & White Health)

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