Pulmonary Cell News Volume 2.32 | Aug 15 2013

Characterization of the Molecular Interplay between Moraxella catarrhalis and Human Respiratory Tract Epithelial Cells
By using Tn-seq, a genome-wide negative selection screenings technology, scientists identified 15 genes potentially required for adherence of Moraxella catarrhalis BBH18 to pharyngeal epithelial Detroit 562 and lung epithelial A549 cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

A Cellular Pathway Involved in Clara Cell to Alveolar Type II Cell Differentiation after Severe Lung Injury
Scientists investigated the cellular pathway underlying the Clara cell to alveolar type 2 (AT2) differentiation. They showed that the initial intermediates are bronchiolar epithelial cells that exhibit Clara cell morphology and express Clara cell marker, Scgb1a1, as well as the AT2 cell marker, pro-surfactant protein C. [PLoS One] Full Article

Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecules Are Co-Expressed in the Human Lung and Their Expression Can Be Modulated in Bronchial Epithelial Cells by Non-Typable Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, TLR3, and Type I and II Interferons
In normal human bronchial epithelial cells, mRNA expression of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAM)1 isoforms CEACAM1-4L, CEACAM1-4S, CEACAM1-3L and CEACAM1-3S were up-regulated by interferons alpha, beta and gamma, as well as the TLR3 agonist polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid. [Respir Res] Abstract | Full Article

Mitigation of Radiation-Induced Damage by Targeting EGFR in Noncancerous Human Epithelial Cells
Researchers investigated whether methyl-2-cyano-3,12 dioxoolean-1,9 diene-28-oate mitigates ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage in immortalized normal human colonic epithelial cells and bronchial epithelial cells. [Radiat Res] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

The Emerging Role of SOX2 in Cell Proliferation and Survival and Its Crosstalk with Oncogenic Signaling in Lung Cancer
Researchers report that SOX2, a self-renewal factor in lung stem/progenitor cells, is highly expressed in a subclass of lung cancer cells, the proliferation, survival and chemoresistance of which are dependent on SOX2 signaling. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Enhanced Autophagy Is Required for Survival in EGFR-Independent EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells
Researchers demonstrated that two epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, HCC827 and HCC4006, contain a subpopulation of cells that have undergone epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and survive independent of activated EGFR. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Enhanced Interaction between Natural Killer Cells and Lung Cancer Cells: Involvement in Gefitinib-Mediated Immunoregulation
Gefitinib increased cytotoxicity of natural killer cells to human lung cancer H1975 cells with EGFR L858R + T790M mutations, while not in A549 cells with wild type EGFR. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article

Mst1 Overexpression Inhibited the Growth of Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo
Scientists showed that mammalian STE20-like kinase 1 (Mst1) overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of A549 cells, promoted Yes-associated protein phosphorylation and downregulated the transcriptional level of Cystein-rich protein connective tissue growth factor, amphiregulin and Survivin. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

Suppression of Wnt Signaling by the miR-29 Family Is Mediated by Demethylation of WIF-1 in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Scientists investigated the role of three DNA methyltransferases (DMNTs) in the expression of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF-1). The three DNA methyltransferases were up-regulated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor tissues and suppression of DNMT3A and DNMT3B restored the expression of WIF-1 in NSCLC cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Role of E3 Ubiquitin Ligases in Lung Cancer
The authors focus on E3 ubiquitin ligases that have been found deregulated in lung cancer. Furthermore, they discuss the processes in which they are involved and evaluate them as potential anti-cancer targets. [World J Clin Oncol] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pulmonary cell research field.

Reduction in Lung Fibrosis with the Anti-Galectin Drug GR-MD-02 Revealed in Preclinical Data
Galectin Therapeutics announced new preclinical data on the efficacy of anti-galectin therapy for lung fibrosis using a model that simulates the human disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. [Galectin Therapeutics]
Press Release

Cepheid Launches Mobile Community for ‘Ride Against TB’ Campaign to Benefit the American Lung Association
Cepheid launched its mobile community for the recently announced ‘Ride Against TB’ campaign to benefit the American Lung Association. The goal of the campaign is to raise overall awareness of the need for improved diagnostic solutions for tuberculosis (TB) and to raise funds to benefit the American Lung Association in its fight against all lung disease. [Cepheid] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Lung Cancer (Yale Cancer Center)

NEW Professor of Immunology Centre for Infection and Immunity (Queen’s University Belfast)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Genomics (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

PhD Position – Interaction of Nanoparticles with the Pulmonary Barrier (Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland)

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 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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