Intestinal Cell News Volume 2.38 | Oct 14 2016

TOP STORY

Macrophage-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Packaged WNTs Rescue Intestinal Stem Cells and Enhance Survival after Radiation Injury

Investigators analyzed the role of macrophage-derived WNT in intestinal repair in mice by inhibiting their release using a macrophage-restricted ablation of Porcupine, a gene essential for WNT synthesis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

INTESTINAL CANCERS & DISEASES

EpCAM-Dependent Extracellular Vesicles from Intestinal Epithelial Cells Maintain Intestinal Tract Immune Balance

Scientists report that extracellular vesicles (EVs) with TGF-β1-dependent immunosuppressive activity are produced by intestinal epithelial cells under physiological conditions. Transfer of these EVs into inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium salt decreases IBD severity by inducing regulatory T cells and immunosuppressive dendritic cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Acute Infectious Gastroenteritis Potentiates a Crohn’s Disease Pathobiont to Fuel Ongoing Inflammation in the Post-Infectious Period

Researchers showed that disease activity in the post-infectious period after gastroenteritis is driven by the tissue-associated expansion of the resident adherent-invasive Escherichia coli pathobiont, with an attendant increase in immunopathology, barrier defects, and delays in mucosal restitution following pathogen clearance. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article | Press Release

Zinc Transporter SLC39A7/ZIP7 Promotes Intestinal Epithelial Self-Renewal by Resolving ER Stress

Investigators showed that Zrt-Irt-like protein (ZIP) transporter ZIP7, which is highly expressed in the intestinal crypt, is essential for intestinal epithelial proliferation. Mice lacking Zip7 in intestinal epithelium triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in proliferative progenitor cells, leading to significant cell death of progenitor cells. [PLoS Genet] Full Article

Transcriptional Regulation by Normal Epithelium of Premalignant to Malignant Progression in Barrett’s Esophagus

Using whole transcriptome profiling researchers found that in the presence of normal epithelial cells, dysplastic cells but not normal cells, exhibit marked down-regulation of a number of key signaling pathways, including the transforming growth factor beta and epithelial growth factor. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Dies1/VISTA Expression Loss Is a Recurrent Event in Gastric Cancer Due to Epigenetic Regulation

Scientists detected promoter-methylation as a mechanism controlling Dies1 expression in their epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT)-model and in several cancer cell-lines. They showed that the relationship between Dies1 expression and BMP-pathway effectors observed in the EMT-model, was not present in all cell-lines, suggesting that Dies1 has other cell-specific effectors, beyond the BMP-pathway. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Protein Malnutrition Impairs Intestinal Epithelial Turnover: A Potential Mechanism of Increased Cryptosporidiosis in a Murine Model

Scientists found that even very brief periods of protein malnutrition may enhance (or intensify) cryptosporidiosis by suppressing Cryptosporidium parvum-induced cell turnover and caspase-dependent apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. [Infect Immun] Abstract | Full Article

Daikenchuto (TU-100) Suppresses Tumor Development in the Azoxymethane and APC^min/+ Mouse Models of Experimental Colon Cancer

Researchers demonstrated that dietary daikenchuto (TU-100), comprised of ginger, ginseng, and Japanese pepper effectively suppresses intestinal tumor development and progression in the azoxymethane and APC^min/+ mouse models. [Phytother Res] Abstract

INTESTINAL STEM CELL & ORGANOID RESEARCH

Single Cell Lineage Tracing Reveals a Role for TgfβR2 in Intestinal Stem Cell Dynamics and Differentiation

The authors used single cell lineage tracing following stochastic transforming growth factor β receptor 2 (TgfβR2) mutation to show cell autonomous effects of TgfβR2 loss on intestinal stem cells clonal dynamics and differentiation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Long-Term Inflammation Transforms Intestinal Epithelial Cells of Colonic Organoids

The mechanisms underlying cell transformation in ulcerative colitis remain unknown. The authors aimed to investigate the effect of long-term inflammation on intestinal epithelial cells using organoid culture. [J Crohns Colitis] Abstract

Paneth Cell Alterations in the Development and Phenotype of Crohn’s Disease

Pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease (CD) involves immune and microbial dysregulation, induced by environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals. There are believed to be multiple subtypes of CD, which contributes to its observed clinical heterogeneity. This concept has been reinforced by recognition of the complexity of the genetic, microbial, immune, and environmental factors that affect risk for CD. [Gastroenterology] Abstract

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

New Retrospective Analyses Confirm Vectibix^® (Panitumumab) Treatment Provided Survival Benefit over Chemotherapy with or without Bevacizumab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients with Tumors of Left-Sided Origin

Amgen announced results from new retrospective analyses of key studies with Vectibix^® in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. The retrospective analysis of the PEAK study in mCRC patients with RAS wild-type primary tumors of left-sided origin showed that patients receiving Vectibix plus FOLFOX6 as first-line treatment achieved 43.4 months median overall survival, an increase of 11.4 months when compared to FOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab. [Press release from Amgen discussing research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2016 Congress, Copenhagen] Press Release

Phase III Nintedanib Trial Results in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Announced

Boehringer Ingelheim announced the LUME-Colon 1 trial, investigating nintedanib plus best supportive care (BSC) versus BSC alone, met one of the co-primary endpoints of progression-free survival in pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, who no longer responded to, or tolerated, other available treatments. [Press release from Boehringer Ingelheim discussing research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2016 Congress, Copenhagen] Press Release

PROMETHEUS^® Anser^® VDZ Test Validated for Use in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Prometheus Laboratories Inc. announced the successful completion of the validation of the new PROMETHEUS Anser VDZ test for use in adult patients treated with vedolizumab in the management of moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. [Prometheus Laboratories Inc.] Press Release

Rebiotix Receives Patent from the USPTO for Microbiota Restoration Therapy

Rebiotix Inc. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 9,433,651 to Rebiotix for its patent application entitled, “Microbiota Restoration Therapy MRT, Compositions and Methods of Manufacture.” The patent covers MRT compositions and methods for manufacturing, processing and delivering the compositions, and builds on Rebiotix’s patent issuances in Australia and Canada. [Rebiotix Inc.] Press Release

Leading Scientists Clash over Sweeping UK Research Reforms

Plans by the UK government to shake up how the country’s research is funded are causing dissent among leading British scientists. [Nature News] Editorial

Grant Awards: Diversity Boost

A recruitment and retention program launched by the Howard Hughes Medical Institution in Chevy Chase, Maryland, aims to reduce barriers for women and under-represented minorities who seek academic-research careers in the life sciences. [Nature Careers] Editorial

Investors Flee as Firm Scraps RNA-Interference Drug Candidate

A prominent developer of drugs that use RNA interference has abandoned one of its leading candidates amid safety concerns — sending a fresh wave of worry through a field that has long struggled to bring treatments to market. [Nature News] Editorial

The Many Shades of European Postdoc Funding

Finding the right grant or fellowship to fund a postdoc can be a challenge, and the situation is all the more complex in Europe, where academic systems, career prospects, and living costs vary widely among countries. [Science Careers] Editorial

NEW Intestinal Organoid Virtual Training
November 30-December 6, 2016
Online, None

NEW 2017 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium
January 19-21, 2017
San Francisco, United States

NEW Intestinal Organoid In-Person Training
May 9-10, 2017
Vancouver, Canada

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Intestinal Stem Cell Repair Mechanisms after Injury and Inflammation (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Intestinal Tissue Engineering (Francis Crick Institute)

Research Assistant – Small Animal Internal Medicine (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mucosal immunology / Neuro-immune interaction (KU Leuven)

Director – Basic and Translational Research (University of Maryland School of Medicine)

PhD Scholarship – Intestine Modeling for Drug Delivery Studies (Technical University of Denmark)

Chair in Medical Biology – Head of the Department of Biology (Masaryk University)

PhD Fellowship – General and Advanced Interventional Gastroenterologists (Temple University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Epidemiology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow or PhD Student – Gastrointestinal Cancers (Goethe University Frankfurt)

Assistant or Associate Member – Stem CellGene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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 Intestinal Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.