Pulmonary Cell News Volume 2.10 | Mar 14 2013

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    Pulmonary Cell News 2.10 March 14, 2013
    Pulmonary Cell News
         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY

    How the New Coronavirus Infects Cells
    A novel respiratory illness caused by the human coronavirus hCoV-EMC has infected over 10 people to date, of which around half have died as a result of infection. Researchers from Utrecht University and Erasmus MC have identified a protein that allows the virus to infect human cells. [Press release from Utrecht University discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract

    Visit The Cilia Samba Blog for Respiratory Research Commentary, News and Interviews.

    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

    A Dynamic Bronchial Airway Gene Expression Signature of COPD and Lung Function Impairment
    The authors report that in silico analysis identified ATF4 as a potential transcriptional regulator of genes with COPD-associated airway expression, and ATF4 overexpression in airway epithelial cells in vitro recapitulates COPD-associated gene expression changes. [Am J Resp Crit Care] Abstract

    Anti-Inflammatory Role of PGD2 in Acute Lung Inflammation and Therapeutic Application of Its Signal Enhancement
    Scientists report that data obtained from bone marrow transplantation between WT and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) receptor, DP-deficient mice suggest that the DP signal in alveolar endothelial cells is crucial for the anti-inflammatory reactions of PGD2. In vitro, DP agonism directly enhanced endothelial barrier formation, and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2 attenuated both neutrophil migration and cytokine expression. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    IL-22 Is Essential for Lung Epithelial Repair Following Influenza Infection
    Wild-type and IL-22−/− mice were infected with influenza A PR8/34 H1N1 and were followed up for up to 21 days post infection. IL-22 receptor was localized to the airway epithelium in naive mice but was expressed at the sites of parenchymal lung remodeling induced by influenza infection. IL-22−/− mice displayed exacerbated lung injury compared with wild-type mice, which correlated with decreased lung function 21 days post infection. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

    Discrimination between Lung Homeostatic and Injury-Induced Epithelial Progenitor Subsets by Cell-Density Properties
    To enhance current methods of lung stem cell isolation and identification and to investigate biophysical changes which occur during homeostasis and in response to acute lung injury, investigators separated cells on a discontinuous density gradient and characterized the eluted lineages. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

    Muramyl Dipeptide Mediated Activation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Interacting with Basophils: A Novel Mechanism of Airway Inflammation
    Researchers investigated activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) ligand muramyl dipeptide on primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE) co-cultured with human basophils. Cytokines, NOD2, adhesion molecules and intracellular signaling molecules were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or flow cytometry. The protein expression of NOD2 was confirmed in basophils/KU812 cells and HBE/human bronchial epithelial cell line cells. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract

    LUNG CANCER

    An Endogenous Inhibitor of Angiogenesis Inversely Correlates with Side Population Phenotype and Function in Human Lung Cancer Cells
    Scientists examined the hypothesis that the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) antitumor activity may involve regulation of the side population (SP) in human lung cancer cells. Indeed, using Hoechst dye efflux assay and flow cytometry, as well as quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis, they found that endogenous TIMP-2 mRNA levels showed a significant inverse correlation with SP fraction size in six non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. [Oncogene] Abstract

    Downregulation of miR-486-5p Contributes to Tumor Progression and Metastasis by Targeting Protumorigenic ARHGAP5 in Lung Cancer
    Researchers evaluated miR-486-5p expression status on 76 frozen and 33 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR to determine its clinicopathologic significance. They then performed function analysis of miR-486-5p to determine its potential roles on cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. miR-486-5p expression level was significantly lower in lung tumors compared with their corresponding normal tissues, and associated with stage and lymph node metastasis of NSCLC. [Oncogene] Abstract

    Protein Phosphorylation Profiling Using an In Situ Proximity Ligation Assay: Phosphorylation of AURKA-Elicited EGFR-Thr654 and EGFR-Ser1046 in Lung Cancer Cells
    The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is up-regulated in lung cancer, involves the activation of mitogenic signals and triggers multiple signaling cascades. To dissect these EGFR cascades, scientists used 14 different phospho-EGFR antibodies to quantify protein phosphorylation using an in situ proximity ligation assay. Phosphorylation at EGFR-Thr654 and -Ser1046 was EGF-dependent in the wild-type receptor but EGF-independent in a cell line carrying the EGFR-L858R mutation. [PLoS One] Full Article

    Identification and Characterization of Cells with Cancer Stem Cell Properties in Human Primary Lung Cancer Cell Lines
    There have been indications that lung cancer is propagated and maintained by a small population of cancer stem cells (CSCs). To study this question researchers established a panel of 15 primary lung cancer cell lines from 20 fresh primary tumors using a robust serum-free culture system. They subsequently focused on identification of lung CSCs by studying these cell lines derived from four representative lung cancer subtypes such as small cell lung cancer, large cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. [PLoS One] Full Article

    DNA Adducts in Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-Positive Lung Stem Cells of A/J Mice Treated with the Tobacco Specific Lung Carcinogen 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-Pyridyl)-1-Butanone (NNK)
    Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a marker of stem cells. To investigate the presence of DNA modifications in these cells, researchers isolated ALDH-positive lung cells from A/J mice exposed to the lung carcinogen NNK. Using LC-NSI-HRMS/MS-PRM, O6-methyl-G, 7-POB-G and O2-POB-dT were positively identified in ALDH-positive cell DNA. [Chem Res Toxicol] Abstract

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    REVIEWS

    Ambient Air Pollution – A Cause for COPD?
    The role of ambient air pollution in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered to be uncertain. The authors review the evidence in the light of recent studies. [Eur Respir J] Abstract

    Virus/Allergen Interactions in Asthma
    Understanding the underlying mechanisms that cause and exacerbate allergic asthmatic disease is of great clinical interest. Clinical studies have revealed that allergies and viral respiratory illnesses are strongly linked to the inception and exacerbation of asthma, and suggest the possibility that there are interactive inflammatory mechanisms. [Curr Allergy Asthm R] Abstract

    INDUSTRY NEWS

    N30 Announces First Patient Treated in Clinical Trial of N6022 in Cystic Fibrosis
    N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced that it has administered the first dose in its Phase Ib/IIa clinical trial of N6022 in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The study is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled evaluation of ascending doses of N6022 in patients who have two copies of the F508del-CFTR mutation, the most common and serious form of CF. [N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

    Asthmapolis Partners with Amerigroup to Enhance Asthma Management Efforts
    Asthmapolis announced the launch of an innovative program in Florida with Amerigroup Florida, Inc. designed to improve the care of members with asthma. Amerigroup Florida will provide the FDA-cleared mobile health solution designed to help its members better manage their asthma, improve understanding of symptoms and triggers and ultimately achieve control of the disease. [Asthmapolis] Press Release

    Allegro Diagnostics Announces BronchoGen™ Genomic Test for Improved Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Successfully Achieves Clinical Validation
    Allegro Diagnostics announced that the AEGIS I clinical trial has met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that the BronchoGen™ genomic test improves the accuracy of lung cancer diagnosis when used in combination with bronchoscopy. [Allegro Diagnostics Corporation] Press Release

    Biothera Completes Enrolment of Second Phase IIb Lung Cancer Trial
    Biothera announced that it has completed enrolment of its 90-patient Phase IIb clinical study of Imprime PGG®, bevacizumab (Avastin®) and two chemotherapeutic drugs in non-small cell lung cancer. [Biothera]
    Press Release

    POLICY NEWS

    National Institutes of Health (United States)

    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)

    EVENTS

    Canadian Respiratory Conference
    April 11-13, 2013
    Québec City, Canada


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

    JOB OPPORTUNITIES

    Postdoctoral/ Research Associate/ Senior Research Associate – Lung Alveolar Epithelial Cell Biology (University of Southern California)

    PhD Studentship – Toxicology (CRP – Gabriel Lippmann)

    PhD Studentship – Impaired Mucosal Immunity in Severe Asthma (Université Catholique de Louvain)

    Postdoctoral Associate – Molecular Cell Biology (Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar)

    Postdoctoral Position – Cardiopulmonary Molecular Biology (Hannover Medical School)

    Postdoctoral Position – Lung Fibrosis (Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center)

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

    Postdoctoral Researcher – Inhalation/Immunology (Louisiana State University)

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