Pulmonary Cell News Volume 2.19 | May 16 2013

Adam8 Limits the Development of Allergic Airway Inflammation in Mice
To determine whether a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-8 (Adam8) regulates allergic airway inflammation (AAI) and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), researchers compared AAI and AHR in wild-type (WT) versus Adam8^−/− mice in different genetic backgrounds sensitized and challenged with OVA or house dust mite protein extract. OVA- and house dust mite-treated Adam8^−/− mice had higher lung leukocyte counts, more airway mucus metaplasia, greater lung levels of some Th2 cytokines, and higher methacholine-induced increases in central airway resistance than allergen-treated WT mice. [J Immunol] Abstract

Flow Cytometric Analysis of the Macrophages and Dendritic Cell Subsets in the Mouse Lung
Researchers developed a panel of surface markers and an analysis strategy that accurately identifies all known populations of macrophages and dendritic cells, and their precursors in the lung during steady state conditions and bleomycin-induced injury. [Am J Resp Cell Mol] Abstract

Interaction of Mycobacterium leprae with Human Airway Epithelial Cells: Adherence, Entry, Survival and Identification of Potential Adhesins by Surface Proteome Analysis
Investigators examined the in vitro interaction between Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, and human alveolar and nasal epithelial cells, demonstrating that M. leprae can enter both cell types and that both are capable of sustaining bacterial survival. [Infect Immun] Abstract

Tgf-β1 Inhibits Cftr Biogenesis and Prevents Functional Rescue of ΔF508-Cftr in Primary Differentiated Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Scientists found that TGF-β1 inhibits CFTR biogenesis by reducing mRNA levels and protein abundance in primary differentiated human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells from non-cystic fibrosis individuals. TGF-β1 inhibits CFTR biogenesis without compromising the epithelial phenotype or integrity of HBE cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Curcumin Nanoparticles Ameliorate ICAM-1 Expression in TNF-α-Treated Lung Epithelial Cells through p47 ^phox and MAPKs/AP-1 Pathways
Investigators focused on the effects of curcumin-loaded polyvinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles (CURN) on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in TNF-α-treated lung epithelial cells and compared these to the effects of curcumin water preparation (CURH). TNF-α induced ICAM-1 expression, ROS production, and cell-cell adhesion were significantly attenuated by the pretreatment with antioxidants and CURN, but not by CURH, as revealed by western blot analysis, RT-PCR, promoter assay, and ROS detection and adhesion assay. [PLoS One] Full Article

Endothelial Colony-Forming Cell Conditioned Media Promotes Angiogenesis In Vitro and Prevents Pulmonary Hypertension in Experimental Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
To determine whether human umbilical cord blood endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) from preterm and term newborns have therapeutic benefit in experimental neonatal lung injury, scientists isolated cord blood ECFCs from full term and preterm newborns and prepared ECFC-conditioned media to test its therapeutic benefit on fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cell growth and function as well as alveolar type 2 cell growth. [Am J Physiol-Lung C] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

PTTG1 Promotes Migration and Invasion of Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells and Is Modulated by miR-186
Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG1) expression was associated with lymph node and distant metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and was correlated with patient survival. Reduction of PTTG1 by siRNA inhibits the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells by mediating MMPs expression. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Stemness and Inducing Differentiation of Small Cell Lung Cancer NCI-H446 Cells
Researchers investigated the expressions of multilineage stem cell markers in the cancer cells of small cell lung cancer cell line and analyzed their clonogenicity, tumorigenicity, and plasticity for inducing differentiation. It has been found that most cancer cells of the cell line expressed multilineage stem cell markers under the routine culture conditions and generated single-cell clones in anchorage-dependent or -independent conditions. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Metabolic Characterization of Cell Systems Used in In Vitro Toxicology Testing: Lung Cell System BEAS-2B as a Working Example
CYP activities were compared between BEAS-2B, HepaRG, HepG2, and A549 cells and published literature on primary bronchial epithelium cells (HBEC). Scientists found that in contrast to HBEC, BEAS-2B and A549 have limited CYP activity which was in agreement with their CYP gene expression profile. [Toxicol In Vitro] Abstract

MicroRNA-148a Suppresses Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition by Targeting ROCK1 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells
Scientists found that microRNA (miR)-148a is significantly downregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to adjacent non-cancerous lung tissues, and the downregulated miR-148a was significantly associated with lymph-node metastasis. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-148a inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in NSCLC cells. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

BREO™ ELLIPTA™ Gains US Approval for the Treatment of COPD
GlaxoSmithKline plc and Theravance, Inc. announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved BREO™ ELLIPTA™ as an inhaled long-term, once-daily maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. [GlaxoSmithKline plc] Press Release

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase Ib/II Clinical Trial of Anti-Cancer Stem Cell Therapeutic OMP-59R5 (Anti-Notch2/3) in Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) and Amends PhaseIb/II Pancreatic Cancer Trial
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced clinical progress with its Anti-Notch2/3 (OMP-59R5) product candidate, which will trigger an $8 million milestone payment from the company’s strategic collaborator GlaxoSmithKline. [OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

XBiotech Announces Results for Its XILONIX™ Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
XBiotech announced its recent findings for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Sixteen advanced NSCLC patients were treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center with the Company’s True Human Therapeutic Antibody XILONIX™. The patients receiving XILONIX had failed all conventional therapy and had progressive disease upon receiving treatment with XILONIX. [XBiotech USA, Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research
September 18-22, 2013
National Harbor, United States

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