Pulmonary Cell News Volume 2.01 | Jan 10 2013

Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Is Increased in Patients with COPD and Induced by Cigarette Smoke
Researchers concluded that the epithelial to mesenchymal transition process is present in bronchial epithelial cells of the small bronchi of smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is activated by cigarette smoke in vitro. [Thorax] Abstract

FOXM1 Promotes Allergen-Induced Goblet Cell Metaplasia and Pulmonary Inflammation
Investigators demonstrated that pulmonary allergen sensitization induces expression of FOXM1 transcription factor in airway epithelial and inflammatory cells. Conditional deletion of the Foxm1 gene from either airway epithelium or myeloid inflammatory cells decreased goblet cell metaplasia, reduced lung inflammation, and decreased airway resistance in response to house dust mite allergen. [Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

Deletion of Stk40 in the Mouse Causes Respiratory Failure and Death at Birth
Investigators generated Stk40 knockout mice and demonstrated that loss of Stk40 gene causes neonatal lethality at birth. Further examination revealed that the respiratory distress and atelectasis occurred in the homozygous mutants. [J Biol Chem] Abstract

Airway Epithelial NF-κB Activation Promotes Mycoplasma pneumoniae Clearance in Mice
By using the non-antimicrobial 9-TB, researchers demonstrated that in vivo airway epithelial nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation promotes lung bacterial clearance, which is accompanied by increased epithelial short palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone 1 expression. [PLoS One] Full Article

Cholinergic Regulation of Epithelial Sodium Channels in Rat Alveolar Type 2 Epithelial Cells
Scientists showed that muscarinic agonists activated epithelial Na⁺ channels in rat alveolar type 2 cells through M2 and/or M3 mAchRs probably via a RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase signaling pathway. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Status and Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Resected Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Researchers showed that the status of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations was associated with different clinical outcomes in patients with resected IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer. [Clin Lung Cancer] Abstract

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-16 Oncoprotein-Induced Angiogenesis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Targeting HIF-1α
Investigators showed that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibited human papillomavirus-16 oncoprotein-induced angiogenesis conferred by non-small cell lung cancer through the inhibition of HIF-1α protein expression and HIF-1α-dependent expression of VEGF, IL-8, and CD31 as well as activation of Akt. [Cancer Chemother Pharmacol] Abstract

Suppressive Oligodeoxynucleotides Synergistically Enhance Antiproliferative Effects of Anticancer Drugs in A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells
Scientists found a significant antiproliferative effect of immunosuppressive oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on the A549 non-small cell lung cancer cell line compared to those treated with control ODNs. [Int J Oncol] Abstract | Full Article

Clinicopathologic Significance of β-Catenin and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Scientists showed that cytosolic protein expression of β-catenin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples is increased relative to normal lung tissues. Also, expression of β-catenin is significantly elevated in squamous cell carcinoma compared to that in lung adenocarcinoma subtypes. Additionally, MMP-2 expression in N 1-2 NSCLC tissues is higher than that in N₀ lung tissue. [Med Oncol] Abstract

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on the Internal Review of Its Phase II Second-Line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Trial
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. provided an update from its internal review of discrepancies from its Phase II randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of bavituximab in second-line non-small cell lung cancer in 121 patients. [Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

GTx Announces FDA’s Grant of Fast Track Designation to Enobosarm For the Prevention and Treatment of Muscle Wasting in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
GTx, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has designated enobosarm (GTx-024) for the prevention and treatment of muscle wasting in patients with non-small cell lung cancer as a Fast Track development program. [GTx, Inc.] Press Release

Stem Cell Lawsuit Finally Over
The Supreme Court rejected a request to ban U.S.-funded research on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The decision brings to an end a long legal battle that has cast a shadow over hESC studies for over three years. [Supreme Court, United States] Press Release

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NEW 6th Annual Cell Culture Technology Event: Recent Advances, Future Prospects
March 7, 2013
London, United Kingdom

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

Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Gene, RNA and Epigenetic Regulation, Protein Science, Signal Transduction, Cell and Stem Cell, Cancer and Other Diseases (Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology)

Postdoctoral Position – Host-Pathogen Interaction at Mucosal Surfaces (Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Lung and Vascular Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Senior Research Scientist – Cell Biology (Biosciences R&I Med)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cardiovascular/Vascular Biology (Yale University – School of Medicine)

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