Pulmonary Cell News Volume 2.30 | Aug 1 2013

COMMD1 Modulates Noxious Inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis
The effect of COMMD1 on the NF-kappaB pathway was assessed in cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchial epithelial cells by knockdown and overexpression experiments. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol] Abstract

Asbestos-Induced Alveolar Epithelial Cell Apoptosis: Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response
Asbestos induces alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) intrinsic apoptosis but the role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is unclear. The authors determined whether asbestos causes an AEC ER stress response that promotes apoptosis. [Am J Resp Cell Mol Biol] Abstract

Differential Proinflammatory Responses Induced by Diesel Exhaust Particles with Contrasting PAH and Metal Content
Researchers compared the proinflammatory potential of two diesel engine exhaust particles (DEP)-samples with contrasting contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals. The DEP-samples were compared with respect to their ability to induce cytotoxicity, expression and release of proinflammatory mediators, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and expression of CYP1A1 and heme oxygenase-1 in human bronchial epithelial cells. [Environ Toxicol] Abstract

Analysis of Global Gene Expression Changes in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Exposed to Spores of the Allergenic Fungus, Alternaria alternata
Researchers investigated global changes in host gene expression during the interaction of cultured human bronchial epithelial cells and live Alternaria spores. [Front Microbiol] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

Niclosamide Overcomes Acquired Resistance to Erlotinib through Suppression of STAT3 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Investigators found that inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor by erlotinib induces STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705 in association with increased Bcl2/Bcl-XL at both mRNA and protein levels in various human lung cancer cells. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Depletion of End-Binding Protein 1 (EB1) Promotes Apoptosis of Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells via Reactive Oxygen Species and Bax-Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Depletion of EB1 in A549 and H1299 cells, which express high levels of EB1, induced cell death in a p53-independent manner through over-production of reactive oxygen species and Bax induction. [Cancer Lett] Abstract | Full Article

1,1-Bis (3′-Indolyl)-1-(p-Substitutedphenyl)Methane Compounds Inhibit Lung Cancer Cell and Tumor Growth in a Metastasis Model
Two 1,1-Bis(3-indolyl)-1-(p-substitutedphenyl)methane (C-DIM) analogs, DIM-C-pPhOCH3 and DIM-C-pPhOH while acting differentially on the orphan nuclear receptor, TR3/Nur77 inhibited cell cycle progression from G0/G1 to S-phase and induced apoptosis in A549 cells. [Eur J Pharm Sci] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Enhancement of (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate and Theaflavin-3-3′-Digallate Induced Apoptosis by Ascorbic Acid in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma SPC-A-1 Cells and Esophageal Carcinoma Eca-109 Cells via MAPK Pathways
Scientists showed that ascorbic acid could enhance the (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and theaflavin-3-3′-digallate induced apoptosis in SPC-A-1 and Eca-109 cells, and this effect involved the activation of caspase-3 and 9. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Combination of siRNA-Directed Gene Silencing with Cisplatin Reverses Drug Resistance in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
The combination of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) and cisplatin that gave the maximum synergy was identified in resistant cells. Scientists then demonstrated that the combination treatment of the selected siRNAs and cisplatin encapsulated in CD44-targeting hyaluronic acid-based self-assembling nanosystems reversed the resistance to cisplatin and delayed the tumor growth significantly in cisplatin-resistant tumors. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

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OncoGenex Announces that the Spruce™ Clinical Trial Evaluating OGX-427 in Combination with Chemotherapy in Advanced Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is Now Open for Enrollment
OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced initiation of the Spruce™ clinical trial, an investigator-sponsored, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial evaluating OGX-427, a heat shock protein 27 inhibitor, in patients with previously untreated advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. [OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

BIND Doses First Patient in a Phase II Clinical Study of BIND-014 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
BIND Therapeutics announced that it has dosed the first patient in a Phase II clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of BIND-014, a PSMA-targeted Accurin containing docetaxel, as second-line therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. [BIND Therapeutics] Press Release

Results from Phase III Study of Ivacaftor Monotherapy Showed Statistically Significant Improvements in Lung Function in People with Non-G551D Gating Mutations
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced the first clinical data from one of the company’s ongoing Phase III label-expansion studies for ivacaftor monotherapy in people with cystic fibrosis. [Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Research Associate – Molecular Mechanisms of Endothelial Permeability, Vascular Inflammation, and Pulmonary Injury (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Asthma (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – ERK3 Kinase Signaling in Cancer Progression and Metastasis (Wright State University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Molecular Determinants of Resistance to Chemotherapy and Radiation (The Ohio State University – Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Translational Oncology (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

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