Intestinal Cell News 3.36 September 22, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYScientists showed that a set of four transcription factors, Hnf4α, Foxa3, Gata6, and Cdx2, can directly reprogram mouse fibroblasts to acquire the identity of fetal intestine-derived progenitor cells (FIPCs). These induced FIPCs formed spherical organoids that developed into adult-type budding organoids containing cells with intestinal stem cell properties. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)INTESTINAL CANCERS & DISEASESTo genetically dissect in vivo the requirement of different signal transduction pathways emanating from KIT for tumorigenesis, the oncogenic KitV558Δ mutation was combined with point mutations abrogating specific phosphorylation sites on KIT. Abrogation of the PI3K-binding site in KitV558Δ;Y719F/Y719F mice prevented gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) development, although the interstitial cells of Cajal, the cells of origin of GIST, were normal. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Researchers report upregulation of cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) in human biopsies of precancerous adenomatous polyps and showed that forced upregulation of CBS in an adenoma-like colonic epithelial cell line is sufficient to induce metabolic and gene expression profiles characteristic of colorectal cancer cells. [Cancer Res] Abstract Investigators found that RAS downregulates the protein ATG12 in colon cancer cells. ATG12 is a mediator of autophagy, a process of degradation and reutilization of cellular components. In addition, ATG12 kills cells via autophagy-independent mechanisms. They established that RAS reduces ATG12 levels in cancer cells by accelerating its proteasomal degradation. [Autophagy] Abstract The authors demonstrated that expression of immunoglobulin containing and proline-rich receptor-1 (IGPR-1) is upregulated in human primary colon cancer. They demonstrated that IGPR-1 promotes tumor multicellular aggregation, and interfering with its adhesive function inhibits multicellular aggregation and, increases cell death. [Oncogenesis] Full Article Three types of human colon cancer cell lines, HT29, HCT116, and HCT116 p53-/-, were treated with 5-fluorouracil (FU). Researchers showed that expression of miR-338-3p was correlated with apoptosis and 5-FU resistance in colon cancer cells. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract INTESTINAL STEM CELL & ORGANOID RESEARCHInvestigators examined the regulatory mechanism of claudin expression by aldosterone (ALD) using the murine colonic epithelial MCE301 cells. ALD dose-dependently increased claudin-2 expression without affecting the expression of claudin-4, -7, -8, and -15. ALD increased nuclear distribution of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), which was inhibited by spironolactone, an MR antagonist. [Sci Rep] Full Article The authors hypothesized that nutrient availability drives changes in cellular energy metabolism of small intestinal epithelial crypts that could contribute to increases in crypt proliferation. They found that glucose increased both crypt proliferation and glycolysis, and the glycolytic pathway inhibitor 2-Deoxy-D-glucose attenuated glucose-induced crypt proliferation. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract The Histone Variant MacroH2A Confers Functional Robustness to the Intestinal Stem Cell Compartment Researchers showed that macroH2A is dispensable for intestinal homeostasis and macroH2A DKO mice have similar numbers of active crypt-base columnar intestinal stem cells (ISCs). MacroH2A DKO intestine exhibits impaired regeneration following injury, despite having significantly more putative reserve ISCs. [PLoS One] Full Article | |
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REVIEWSDeciphering Cell Intrinsic Properties: A Key Issue for Robust Organoid Production Scientists highlight the disposition of various cell types to self-organize into complex organ-like structures without necessarily the support of any stromal cells, provided they are placed into permissive 3D culture conditions. [Trends Biotechnol] Abstract Functional Significance and Therapeutic Implication of Ring-Type E3 Ligases in Colorectal Cancer Defects of E3 ligases have been reported to be involved in the molecular etiology and pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The authors provide a comprehensive summary of abnormally expressed E3 ligases and their related pivotal mechanistic effects in CRC. [Oncogene] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the intestinal cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSSTEMCELL Technologies has signed an exclusive license with Propagenix to commercialize its patented EpiX™ technology, a novel and revolutionary cell culture medium that enables unprecedented expansion of tissue-resident epithelial stem cells without any genetic manipulation. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release UNC Researcher Receives NIH Grant to Model Rare and Puzzling Type of GI Cancer Cancers of the small intestine are so rare that only limited information is available on their incidence, prognosis, and treatment prospects. “Nobody really understands why that’s the case,” said The North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute member Scott Magness, an expert of gut biology. Magness received a $350,000, two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to engineer new approaches to study this puzzling type of cancer. [The North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute] Press Release Edinburgh Molecular Imaging Commences Phase II European Cancer Trial Edinburgh Molecular Imaging announced that it has commenced a pivotal Phase IIb clinical trial with its novel compound, EMI-137, in patients with high suspicion of colorectal cancer. [Edinburgh Molecular Imaging] Press Release ABIVAX Receives French Regulatory Approval to Begin Clinical Trial of ABX464 in Ulcerative Colitis ABIVAX announced that the French National Regulatory Authority has approved the ABX464-101 Phase IIa “Proof-of-Concept” study of its lead product candidate ABX464 in patients with moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis. [ABIVAX] Press Release Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the FDA has granted “Fast-Track” status for its lead drug CPP-1X/sul for adults with familial adenomatous polyposis, which is currently in a Phase III clinical trial. [Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSPublishers Go After Networking Site for Illicit Sharing of Journal Papers A major scientific publishing group is taking aim at a social networking site for allowing researchers to illegally post copies of their journal papers. The International Association of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers in Oxford, U.K., and The Hague, the Netherlands, has written to ResearchGate, a networking website for researchers, to express concerns over its article-sharing practices. [ScienceInsider] Editorial United Kingdom Sees Dip in European Research Applications after Brexit Vote The number of researchers applying for Europe-funded Marie Curie fellowships in the United Kingdom has dipped slightly since the country’s vote to leave the European Union, data released to Nature show. But there is no evidence yet of a sharp collapse in interest, which some scientists had feared in the wake of the Brexit referendum. [Nature News] Editorial Craig Venter’s Synthetic Biology Company Hit with Gender Discrimination Suit A former employee of a company co-founded by genomics pioneer J. Craig Venter has filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination against the firm’s female employees—and alleging harassment by Venter himself. [ScienceInsider] Editorial A Far-Right Party Is About to Enter the German Parliament. What Does that Mean for Science? Angela Merkel will likely remain chancellor after the German elections, but the voting will shake up German federal politics in another way. Polls predict that the far-right Alternative for Germany will get close to 10% of the vote, winning seats in the federal legislature, the Bundestag, for the first time. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW European CanCer Organization (ECCO) 2018: European Cancer Summit Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (Johns Hopkins University) NEW Scientist – Colorectal Cancer (Italian Cancer Research Association) Research Technologist – Intestinal Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Researcher/Faculty Member – Cancer Biology (University of Cincinnati) Postdoctoral Opportunities – Biology of Colorectal Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) Project Research Scientist – Cancer Genetics (The Francis Crick Institute) Postdoctoral Fellow – Gastric Stem Cells (Harvard University) Research Assistant – Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics and Biomarkers (Baylor Research Institute) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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