Pulmonary Cell News Volume 3.33 | Aug 28 2014

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 Inhibits Liposaccharide-Induced Inflammation in the Airway
Investigators demonstrate that bone morphogenetic protein 4 was upregulated in lungs undergoing liposaccharide-induced inflammation, and in airway epithelial cells treated with liposaccharide or TNF-α.
[Eur J Immunol] Abstract

cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Activation Decreases Cytokine Release in Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Scientists hypothesized that a bidirectional mechanism involving cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C regulates epithelial airway inflammatory responses. To test this hypothesis, primary human bronchial epithelial cells and BEAS-2B cells were treated with hog dust extract in the presence or absence of cAMP.
[Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Key Role for Store-Operated Ca²⁺ Channels in Activating Gene Expression in Human Airway Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Investigators evaluated if store-operated Ca²⁺ channels were expressed in human bronchial epithelial cells and, if so, whether they coupled Ca²⁺ entry to gene expression. [PLoS One] Full Article

Generation of Alveolar Epithelial Spheroids via Isolated Progenitor Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers demonstrate methods for isolating induced alveolar epithelial progenitor cells from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

LUNG CANCER

Transcription Factor PREP1 Induces EMT and Metastasis by Controlling the TGF-β-SMAD3 Pathway in Non-Small Cell Lung Adenocarcinoma
Scientists show that, in addition to inhibiting primary tumor growth, pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox-regulating protein-1 (PREP1) is a novel epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducer and prometastatic transcription factor. In human non-small cell lung cancer cells, PREP1 overexpression is sufficient to trigger EMT, whereas PREP1 down-regulation inhibits the induction of EMT in response to TGF-β. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

miR-340 Inhibits Tumor Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis by Targeting Multiple Negative Regulators of p27 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Researchers describe miR-340 as a novel tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer. Starting from the observation that the growth-inhibitory and proapoptotic effects of miR-340 correlate with the accumulation of p27 in lung adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma cells, they analyzed the functional relationship between miR-340 and p27 expression. [Oncogene] Abstract

Dishevelled-3 Activates p65 to Upregulate p120-Catenin Transcription via a p38-Dependent Pathway in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Scientists show that Dishevelled-3 activates a p3→p65→PAX2→p120-catenin pathway to affect biological behavior of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. [Mol Carcinog] Abstract

miR-204 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor by Regulating SIX1 in NSCLC
Researchers analyzed the expression of miR-204 in tumor- and adjacent-tissue samples from 141 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SIX1 was identified as a potential target of miR-204, and SIX1 silencing partially compromised the invasive and proliferative capacity of miR-204-deficient cells [FEBS Lett] Abstract

Combined Inhibition of Hsp90 and the Proteasome Affects NSCLC Proteostasis and Attenuates Cell Migration
Scientists suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibition may be augmented by coadministering proteasome inhibitor on human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines.
[Anticancer Drugs] Abstract

University of Colorado’s Online Screening for Rare Lung Cancer Subtypes Opens Door to New Kind of Clinical Trial
The University of Colorado Cancer Center is taking a novel approach to matching different drugs with specific subtypes of the disease based on the presence of “predictive biomarkers”, reaching out via the internet to expand the pool of patients potentially eligible for just such a biomarker-preselected clinical trial.
[University of Colorado Cancer Center] Press Release

OncoGenex Announces Update on Phase III ENSPIRIT Trial Evaluating Custirsen in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the Phase III ENSPIRIT trial, evaluating custirsen in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, is continuing as planned per the recommendation of the Independent Data Monitoring Committee based upon completion of the first interim futility analysis.
[OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Group (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials (Louvain Drug Research Institute)

Research Assistant – Lung Cancer (University of Cambridge)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Lung Diseases (University of Calgary)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Development of the Esophagus and Lung (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Lung Cancer (University College Dublin)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanisms of Lung Alveoli Epithelial Repair (University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology Endoderm Lineages (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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