Pulmonary Cell News Volume 3.14 | Apr 17 2014

Modeling Nanoparticle-Alveolar Epithelial Cell Interactions under Breathing Conditions Using Captive Bubble Surfactometry
Researchers present a method where epithelial lung cells are integrated into a system, the Captive Bubble Surfactometer, which allows the cyclical compression and expansion of the surfactant film at the air-liquid interface, thus modelling the dynamics of breathing. [Langmuir] Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus Alpha-Toxin Mediates General and Cell Type-Specific Changes in Metabolite Concentrations of Immortalized Human Airway Epithelial Cells
Using ¹H-NMR, GC-MS and HPLC-MS, investogators quantified the concentrations of 51 intracellular metabolites and assessed alterations in the amount of 25 extracellular metabolites in the two human bronchial epithelial cell lines S9 and 16HBE14o⁻ under standard culture conditions and after treatment with sub-lethal amounts (2 µg/ml) of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin in a time-dependent manner. [PLoS One] Full Article

Folliculin Controls Lung Alveolar Enlargement and Epithelial Cell Survival through E-Cadherin, LKB1, and AMPK
Scientists showed that Birt-Hogg-Dubé lungs exhibit increased alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis and that folliculin deletion in mouse lung epithelium leads to cell apoptosis, alveolar enlargement, and an impairment of both epithelial barrier and overall lung function. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

LUNG CANCER

Targeting Lactate Dehydrogenase-A Inhibits Tumorigenesis and Tumor Progression in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer and Impacts Tumor-Initiating Cells
Investigators used an inducible murine model and demonstrate that inactivation of lactate dehydrogenase-A in mouse models of NSCLC driven by oncogenic K-RAS or EGFR leads to decreased tumorigenesis and disease regression in established tumors. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Clinical Outcome According to the Level of Preexisting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor T790M Mutation in Patients with Lung Cancer Harboring Sensitive Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation drives acquired drug resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer. However, it was reported that this mutation may exist before drug exposure. Researchers evaluated whether the clinical outcomes are affected by the percentage of preexisting T790M mutations within a tumor. [Cancer] Abstract

The Bim Deletion Polymorphism Clinical Profile and Its Relation with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance in Chinese Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Investigators retrospectively studied the Bim deletion polymorphism in Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer and its correlation with the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. [Cancer] Abstract

TSPAN2 Is Involved in Cell Invasion and Motility during Lung Cancer Progression
In lung cancer progression, p53 mutations are more often observed in invasive tumors than in noninvasive tumors, suggesting that p53 is involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. Scientists report that KRAS activation induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and that p53 inactivation is required for cell motility and invasiveness. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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Stand Up to Cancer Research Funding Opportunities
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), on behalf of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and Cancer Research UK, is accepting applications for SU2C-Cancer Research UK Translational Research Fellowships that will offer up to $315,000 each in research funding. [The American Association for Cancer Research]
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Postdoctoral Scholar – Molecular Mechanisms of Lung Cancer, Lung Regeneration and Lung Development (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Extracellular Microenvironment in Cancer (Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool)

Visiting Scientist/Postdoctoral Researcher – Lung and Vascular Biology (University of Kentucky)

Postdoctoral Opportunity – Mucins, Mucus and Mucociliary Interactions in the Lung (AstraZeneca)

PhD Student – Lung Development (Erasmus MC)

Postdoctoral Positions – Pulmonary and Exercise Immunology (São Paulo Research Foundation)

Research Project Leader – Next Generation Lung Cancer Diagnostics (BIOBASE)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Pulmonary Research (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Novel Therapeutic Approaches to the Treatment of Lung Cancer (Sloan Kettering Institute)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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