Pulmonary Cell News Volume 3.19 | May 22 2014

Branching Morphogenesis of Immortalized Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells in Three-Dimensional Culture
Scientists describe a three-dimensional model system using human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) cultured on reconstituted basement membrane. HBECs form complex budding and branching structures on reconstituted basement membrane when co-cultured with human lung fetal fibroblasts. [Differentiation] Abstract

PM10-Stimulated Airway Epithelial Cells Activate Primary Human Dendritic Cells Independent of Uric Acid: Application of an In Vitro Model System Exposing Dendritic Cells to Airway Epithelial Cell-Conditioned Media
Researchers developed and validated a model of dendritic cell exposure to airway epithelial cell-conditioned media. After establishing the model, they explored how soluble mediators released from airway epithelial cells in response to air pollution influenced the phenotype of dendritic cells. [Respirology] Abstract

Pro-Oxidative Toxicity of Cells in Suspension Does Not Point to a Cell Cultural Artefact as an Explanation of the Increased Susceptibility of Alveolar Epithelial-Like Cells after Glucocorticoid Pretreatment
The influence of cell numbers on peroxide-(tertiary butylhydroperoxide or hydrogen peroxide) or zinc-(zinc chloride) induced oxidative stress was assessed in alveolar epithelial-like cell lines. [Toxicol In Vitro] Abstract

Human Metapneumovirus Infection Induces Significant Changes in Small Noncoding RNA Expression in Airway Epithelial Cells
Scientists analyzed the changes in small noncoding RNAs (sncRNA) profiles of airway epithelial cells in response to human metapneumovirus infection using ultrahigh-throughput sequencing. Of the cloned sncRNAs, microRNA (miRNA) was dominant in A549 cells, with the percentage of miRNA increasing in a time-dependent manner after the infection. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

Pivotal Role of MUC1 Glycosylation by Cigarette Smoke in Modulating Disruption of Airway Adherens Junctions In Vitro
Using organotypic cultures of primary human bronchial epithelial cells treated with smoke-concentrated medium, scientists have demonstrated that epithelial cadherin loss is regulated through the aberrant interaction of its adherens junction binding partner, p120-catenin, and the C-terminus of mucin-1 (MUC1). [J Pathol] Abstract

Axl-Altered MicroRNAs Regulate Tumorigenicity and Gefitinib Resistance in Lung Cancer
Researchers validate and report that microRNA (miR)-374a and miR-548b modulated by Axl have essential roles in cell cycle arrest, gefitinib-induced apoptosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration and tumorigenesis of gefitinib-resistant lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by targeting Wnt5a and CCNB1 genes, respectively. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Mixture Effects of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes (BTEX) to Lung Carcinoma Cells via a Hanging Drop Air Exposure System
A recently developed hanging drop air exposure system for toxicity studies of volatile chemicals was applied to evaluate the cell viability of lung carcinoma A549 cells after one hour and 24 hours of exposure to BTEX as individual compounds and mixtures of four or six components. [Chem Res Toxicol] Abstract

Combination of Sasa quelpaertensisi Nakai Leaf Extract and Cisplatin Suppresses the Cancer Stemness and Invasion of Human Lung Cancer Cells
Scientists investigated whether Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extracts and cisplatin, individually or in combination, would exert anti-cancer stem cell and antimetastatic effect in H1299 and A549 human lung cancer cells. [Integr Cancer Ther] Abstract

Combination of BIBW2992 and ARQ 197 Is Effective against Erlotinib-Resistant Human Lung Cancer Cells with the EGFR T790M Mutation
Researchers investigated the inhibitory effects of a combination of BIBW2992 on the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line H1975. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

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GSK Presents Positive Data from Study Evaluating Efficacy and Safety of Incruse™ Ellipta^® Added to Advair^® Diskus^® in Patients with COPD
GlaxoSmithKline plc presented data from a late-stage clinical study. In this study the safety and efficacy of the addition of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, umeclidinium ‘UMEC’ 62.5mcg (Incruse^TM Ellipta^®) and UMEC 125mcg, to the inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta₂ agonist combination medicine, fluticasone proprionate and salmeterol ‘FSC 250/50 mcg’ (Advair^® Diskus^®), was evaluated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients over 12 weeks. [Press release from GlaxoSmithKline plc discussing research presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2014 International Congress, San Diego]
Press Release

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Clovis Oncology Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation for CO-1686 for the Treatment of Second-Line EGFR Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in Patients with the T790M Mutation
Clovis Oncology, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for the Company’s investigational agent CO-1686 as monotherapy for the treatment of second-line EGFR mutant NSCLC in patients with the T790M mutation. [Clovis Oncology, Inc.] Press Release

Genprex Begins Phase II Clinical Trial for Lung Cancer
Genprex, Inc. announced that it has enrolled the first patient in a clinical trial evaluating its lead product candidate Oncoprex® in combination with erlotinib (Tarceva®) for late-stage lung cancer patients. [Genprex, Inc.] Press Release

Bold Initiative to Transform Cancer Care Established with a $100 Million Gift
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center announced the creation of the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology. Named in honor of Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis and the $100 million gift from their foundation, the CMO will enable researchers to speed the translation of new discoveries into routine clinical practice and reshape the design of clinical trials. [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center] Press Release

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NEW Junior Research Group Leader Position – Cell-Derived Therapeutics in Chronic Lung Disease (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung Biology and Genomics (Harvard University)

NEW Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Allergic Lung Inflammation (Singapore Immunology Network)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Malignant Progression of Lung Cancer (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Research Fellow – Pulmonary Cancer (Mayo Clinic – Rochester)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Metabolomics of Pulmonary Medicine (Karolinska Institute)

Molecular Immunologist – COPD (GlaxoSmithKline)

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

Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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

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