Increased ERK Signaling Promotes Inflammatory Signaling in Primary Airway Epithelial Cells Expressing Z α1-Antitrypsin Researchers report excessive NF-κB signaling in resting primary bronchial epithelial cells from ZZ patients compared to wild-type controls, and this appears to be mediated by MEK, EGFR and ADAM17 activity. [Hum Mol Genet] Abstract A Site-Specific Genetic Modification for Induction of Pluripotency and Subsequent Isolation of Derived Lung Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells Scientists report a novel strategy using a single non-viral site-specific-targeting vector with a combination of Tet-On inducible gene expression system, Cre/lox P switching gene expression system, and alveolar epithelial type II cell-specific NeomycinR transgene expression system. [Stem Cells] Abstract Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1, -3, and -9 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Dependent Respiratory Networks by the Rapamycin-Sensitive PI3K/p70S6K Cascade Researchers investigated the role of the phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/p70S6K signaling path on regulation of primary normal human bronchial epithelial cell-derived matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3, and -9 expression in tuberculosis. [FASEB J] Abstract TNF Induces the Expression of the Sialyltransferase ST3Gal IV in Human Bronchial Mucosa via MSK1/2 Protein Kinases and Increases FliD/Sialyl-Lewisx Mediated Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Scientists showed that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced up-regulation of ST3GAL4 BX transcript is mediated by the mitogen and stress activated protein kinases MSK1/2 through extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, and increases sialyl-Lewisx expression on high molecular weight glycoproteins in the inflamed airway epithelium. [Biochem J] Abstract Prolonged Cigarette Smoke Exposure Alters Mitochondrial Structure and Function in Airway Epithelial Cells Researchers studied changes in mitochondrial morphology and in expression of markers for mitochondrial capacity, damage/biogenesis and fission/fusion in the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B upon 6-months from ex-smoking COPD GOLD stage IV patients to age-matched smoking and never-smoking controls. [Respir Res] Abstract | Full Article LncRNA-DQ786227-Mediated Cell Malignant Transformation Induced by Benzo(a)pyrene Scientists investigated the role of a novel long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) in transformed human bronchial epithelial cells induced by benzo(a)pyrene. After establishing the transformed cell model using the BEAS-2B cell line in vitro, they found that expression of lncRNA-DQ786227 was high and changed during the transformation of BEAS-2B cells. [Toxicol Lett] Abstract LUNG CANCER Phosphorylation of Paxillin Confers Cisplatin Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Activating ERK-Mediated Bcl-2 Expression Researchers showed that cisplatin resistance was dependent on paxillin (PXN) expression, as evidenced by PXN overexpression in TL-13 and TL-10 cells and PXN knockdown in H23 and CL1-5 cells. [Oncogene] Abstract The Long Non-Coding RNA HOTAIR Indicates a Poor Prognosis and Promotes Metastasis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Researchers examined the expression pattern of HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and evaluated its biological role and clinical significance in tumor progression. HOTAIR was highly expressed both in NSCLC samples and cell lines compared with corresponding normal counterparts. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling of the Anticancer Effect of Erlotinib in a Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Xenograft Mouse Model Scientists investigated the relationship between erlotinib plasma concentrations and phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (pEGFR) levels, as well as the relationship between pEGFR levels and tumor growth inhibition in a human non-small-cell lung cancer xenograft mouse model. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract Identification of CD90 as a Marker for Lung Cancer Stem Cells in A549 and H446 Cell Lines Investigators identified CD90 as a novel surface marker of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in lung cancer cells. Furthermore, they isolated CD90+ CSCs from lung cancer cell lines A549 and H446. [Oncol Rep] Abstract |