Intestinal Cell News Volume 3.07 | Feb 24 2017

TOP STORY

MVP-Mediated Exosomal Sorting of miR-193a Promotes Colon Cancer Progression

Scientists examined different exosomal miRNA expression profiles in primary mouse colon tumor, liver metastasis of colon cancer and naive colon tissues. In more advanced disease, higher levels of tumor suppressor miRNAs are encapsulated in the exosomes. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

INTESTINAL CANCERS & DISEASES

Mcl-1 Degradation Is Required for Targeted Therapeutics to Eradicate Colon Cancer Cells

The authors present evidence that Mcl-1 participates directly in determining effective therapeutic responses in colon cancer cells. In this setting, Mcl-1 degradation was induced by a variety of multi-kinase inhibitor drugs, where it relied upon GSK3β phosphorylation and FBW7-dependent ubiquitination. [Cancer Res] Abstract

AMPK Improves Gut Epithelial Differentiation and Barrier Function via Regulating Cdx2 Expression

Investigators aimed to evaluate the regulatory role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on intestinal epithelial development and barrier function. In this study, AMPK activator (AICAR) improved the barrier function of Caco-2 cells as indicated by increased transepithelial electrical resistance and reduced paracellular FITC-dextran permeability; consistently, AICAR enhanced epithelial differentiation and tight junction formation. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Double-Network-Structured Graphene Oxide-Containing Nanogels as Photothermal Agents for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Researchers reported the production of hyaluronic acid/polyaspartamide-based double-network nanogels for the potential treatment of colorectal carcinoma. Graphene oxide allowed to easily load high amount of irinotecan and conferred to the system hyperthermic properties when irradiated with a near-infrared laser beam. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

Expression of the Cancer Stem Cell Markers ABCG2 and OCT-4 in Right-Sided Colon Cancer Predicts Recurrence and Poor Outcomes

Researchers examined the malignant behavior of ABCG2 and OCT-4 in vitro and in vivo, and their expression was assessed in pathology tissues obtained from clinicopathologically recurrent and non-recurrent cases. Their survey suggested associations between ABCG2 and OCT-4 expression and right-sided colon cancer clinicopathological variables. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Tissue Transglutaminase Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition and the Acquisition of Stem Cell Like Characteristics in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Human colon cancer cell lines RKO, SW480 and SW620 were investigated for tissue transglutaminase (TG2) involvement in tumor advancement and aggression. TG2 expression correlated with tumor advancement and expression of markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The metastatic cell line SW620 showed high TG2 expression compared to the primary tumor cell lines SW480 and RKO and could form tumor spheroids under non- adherent conditions. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Loss of MLH1 Sensitizes Colon Cancer Cells to DNA-PKcs Inhibitor KU60648

Scientists examined the expression of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and MSH3 in different MMR-deficient and proficient cell lines and determined their sensitivity to KU60648 by analyzing cell viability and survival. MLH1-dependent ability of double strand break repair was monitored after irradiation via γH2AX detection. [Mol Carcinog] Abstract

WD-Repeat Protein WDR13 Is a Novel Transcriptional Regulator of C-Jun and Modulates Intestinal Homeostasis in Mice

Scientists used AOM/DSS to induce colitis-mediated colorectal tumor after establishing expression of Wdr13 gene in colon. Further, they used human colon cancer cell lines, HT29 and COLO205, and mouse primary embryonic fibroblast to understand the molecular mechanism of WDR13 action. [BMC Cancer] Full Article

Role of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β and PPAR-γ on Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in DSS-Induced Colorectal Fibrosis

Investigators evaluated the action of the new PPAR-γ modulator, GED-0507-34 Levo on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition associated and regulatory proteins such as TGF-β, Smad3, E-cadherin, Snail, ZEB1, β-catenin, and GSK-3β, in a mouse model of DSS-induced intestinal fibrosis. [PLoS One] Full Article

CacyBP/SIP Promotes the Proliferation of Colon Cancer Cells

The authors examined the expression level, subcellular localization, and binding activity of CacyBP/SIP in human colon cancer cells in the presence and absence of the hormone gastrin. They found that CacyBP/SIP was expressed in a high percentage of colon cancer cells, but not in normal colonic surface epithelium. [PLoS One] Full Article

Nucleic Acid Sensing Pattern Recognition Receptors in the Development of Colorectal Cancer and Colitis

The authors provide an overview of the roles as well as the mechanisms of these nucleic acid sensing pattern recognition receptors in colorectal cancer (CRC) and colitis, which may aid the diagnosis, therapy, and prognostic prediction of CRC and colitis. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

Carcinogenesis and Therapeutics: The Microbiota Perspective

The authors discuss the pro- and anticarcinogenic role of the microbiota, as well as highlighting the therapeutic potential of microorganisms in tumorigenesis. The broad impacts, and, at times, opposing roles of the microbiota in carcinogenesis serve to illustrate the complex and sometimes conflicted relationship between microorganisms and the host—a relationship that could potentially be harnessed for therapeutic benefits. [Nat Microbiol] Abstract

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

New Data in Crohn’s Disease Patients Shows Similar Efficacy and Safety Profiles for INFLECTRA^® and REMICADE^®

Data announced jointly by Pfizer Inc. and Celltrion Healthcare showed that for patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease (CD), treatment with INFLECTRA has similar efficacy and safety to treatment with REMICADE. The randomized 54 week clinical trial 2 in 214 patients met its primary end point demonstrating that, at six weeks, INFLECTRA was similar to REMICADE in the treatment of CD thereby meeting the criterion for non-inferiority. [Press release from Pfizer Inc. discussing research presented at 12^th Congress of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO), Barcelona] Press Release

Finch Therapeutics Announces Strategic Collaboration with OpenBiome to Develop Microbiome Therapies for FDA Approval

Finch Therapeutics, Inc. and OpenBiome announced a collaboration to develop FIN-403, an orally administered microbial therapy for approval by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in recurrent C. difficile infections. [Finch Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

DiaCarta Receives CE-IVD for its Non-Invasive Colorectal Cancer Test – ColoScape^TM Real-Time PCR Kit

DiaCarta announced it received CE-IVD approval for its innovative new colorectal cancer test, ColoScape^TM, a colorectal cancer mutation detection kit. Designed to aid colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis, ColoScape^TM offers high sensitivity and accuracy of detection for clinically validated CRC mutations in DNA extracted from solid tumor, plasma or stool samples. [DiaCarta (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

ImmusanT Announces Completion of Phase Ib Clinical Trial of Nexvax2^® for the Treatment of Celiac Disease

ImmusanT, Inc. announced the completion of a Phase Ib clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of Nexvax2 in celiac disease. The trial met its objectives and identified a Phase II dose regimen. [ImmusanT, Inc.] Press Release

Will They or Won’t They? What Science Groups Are Saying About Joining the March for Science

The March for Science is creating a buzz in the scientific community. The march arose as a grassroots reaction to concerns about the conduct of science under President Donald Trump. And it has spurred debate over whether it will help boost public support for research, or make scientists look like another special-interest group, adding to political polarization. [Science Insider] Editorial

Firing of Veteran NIH Scientist Prompts Protests over Publication Ban

At least two dozen junior and senior researchers are stuck in scientific limbo after being barred from publishing data collected over a 25-year period at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) lab. The unusual ban follows the firing last summer of veteran neurologist Allen Braun by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for what many scientists have told Science are relatively minor, if widespread, violations of his lab’s experimental protocol. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Why British Universities Are Unlikely to Accept Invitation to Set Up Campuses in France

A consortium of academic institutes near Paris is hoping to lure British universities to create research campuses in France, dangling as bait the possibility of access to European Union research funds after Brexit. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017
April 1-5, 2017
Washington, United States

NEW Stem Cell Summit
April 26-28, 2017
Boston, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Unravelling Oncotherapy Stem Cell Toxicity (AstraZeneca)

Assistant & Associate Investigators – Colorectal, Pancreatic, Gastric and Esophageal Cancers (Baylor Scott & White Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Intestinal Pathogens on Host Development and Metabolism (Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School)

Faculty Position – Intestinal Stem Cell Research (Duke University Division of Gastroenterology)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cellular Mechanisms by Which Fatty Acids Are Absorbed in the Gut (UCSF – Cardiovascular Research Institute)

Research Associate – Colorectal Cancer (University of Virginia)

Gastroenterologist(s) – General and Interventional (Temple University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Translational Intestinal Models (Johnson & Johnson Group)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Intestinal Disease (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)

Research Fellow – Cross Talk between Immune Cells, Microbes and the Intestinal Barrier (University of Michigan Ann Arbor)

Assistant Professor – Molecular Therapeutics of Cancer (Dartmouth College)

Assistant or Associate Member – Stem Cell/Gene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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