Conditions Associated with the Cystic Fibrosis Defect Promote Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection Researchers studied P. aeruginosa isolates grown in agar and mucus gels containing sputum from cystic fibrosis patients and measured their susceptibility to killing by antibiotics and host defenses. They also measured the invasive virulence of P. aeruginosa grown in sputum gels using airway epithelial cells and a murine infection model. [Am J Respir Crit Care Med] Abstract Free Radical Scavenging and Formation by Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Cell Free Conditions and in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Researchers investigated the effect of bovine serum albumin and cell culture medium with and without BEAS 2B cells on radical formation/scavenging by five multi-walled carbon nanotubes, Printex 90 carbon black, crocidolite asbestos, and glass wool, using electron spin resonance spectroscopy and linked this to cytotoxic effects measured by trypan blue exclusion assay. [Part Fibre Toxicol] Abstract | Full Article Comparative Decellularization and Recellularization of Normal Versus Emphysematous Human Lungs Inoculation of human bronchial epithelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and lung fibroblasts via airway or vascular routes into small, excised segments of decellularized lungs demonstrated that normal lung scaffolds robustly supported initial engraftment and growth of each cell type for up to one month. [Biomaterials] Abstract Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) Agonists Increase Airway Epithelial Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity Researchers investigated the detailed mechanisms of how AhR agonists modulated the expressions and activities of matrix metalloproteinases in bronchial epithelial cells. [J Mol Med] Full Article Effects of Vitamin D on Airway Epithelial Cell Morphology and Rhinovirus Replication Scientists hypothesized that vitamin D could directly reduce rhinovirus (RV) replication in airway epithelium. Primary human bronchial epithelial cells were treated with vitamin D, and RV replication and gene expression were evaluated by quantitative PCR. [PLoS One] Full Article A-Kinase Anchoring Proteins Contribute to Loss of E-Cadherin and Bronchial Epithelial Barrier by Cigarette Smoke Scientists studied the role of A-kinase anchoring proteins in regulating human bronchial epithelial (HBE) barrier. Cigarette smoke extract reduced barrier function in 16HBE cells and the expression of the adhesion molecule E-cadherin specifically at the cell membrane. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Abstract LUNG CANCER Antioxidants Accelerate Lung Cancer Progression in Mice N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E increase tumor cell proliferation by reducing reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and p53 expression in mouse and human lung tumor cells. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release Inhibition of KRAS-Driven Tumorigenicity by Interruption of an Autocrine Cytokine Circuit Researchers showed that the IKK-related kinases TBK1 and IKKe promote KRAS-driven tumorigenesis by regulating autocrine CCL5 and IL-6 and identify CYT387 as a potent JAK/TBK1/IKKe inhibitor. [Cancer Discov] Abstract | Press Release MicroRNA-193a-3p and -5p Suppress the Metastasis of Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer by Downregulating the ERBB4/PIK3R3/mTOR/S6K2 Signaling Pathway By comparing the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of SPC-A-1sci and SPC-A-1 cells, researchers demonstrated that the downregulation and function of miR-193a-3p and miR-193a-5p in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis and the expression of these miRNAs was suppressed in NSCLC compared with corresponding non-tumorous tissues. [Oncogene] Abstract The Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Causes Acquired Resistance to Erlotinib in Lung Cancer Cells with the Wild-Type Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Researchers used H358 lung adenocarcinoma cells lacking epidermal growth factor receptor mutations that showed modest sensitivity to erlotinib. The H358 cells acquired resistance to erlotinib via chronic exposure to the drug. [Int J Cancer] Abstract Mcl-1 Mediates TWEAK/Fn14-Induced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Survival and Therapeutic Response A role was determined for TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)-FGF-inducible 14 (Fn14) pro-survival signaling in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through the up-regulation of myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl-1). Depletion of Mcl-1 via siRNA or pharmacological inhibition of Mcl-1, using EU-5148, sensitized TWEAK-treated NSCLC cells to cisplatin- or radiation-mediated inhibition of cell survival. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 Potentiates Lung Cancer Bone Metastasis Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were examined in vitro for colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1)/CSF1R. A549-luc cells were injected intracardiac in NOD/SCID mice and metastasis was assessed. Scientists showed that A549 cells express CSF1/CSF1R; CSF1 increased their proliferation and invasion, whereas soluble CSF1R inhibited invasion. [Lab Invest] Abstract |