Pulmonary Cell News Volume 4.09 | Mar 12 2015

Imprinting of the COPD Airway Epithelium for Dedifferentiation and Mesenchymal Transition
Researchers hypothesized that de-differentiation of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respiratory epithelium through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) could participate in airway fibrosis and thereby, in airway obstruction. Surgical lung tissue and primary broncho-epithelial cultures from 104 patients were assessed for EMT markers. [Eur Respir J] Abstract

Pneumococci LytA-Dependent KLF4 Expression Terminates IL-8 Secretion in Lung Epithelium
Scientists tested the hypothesis that Krueppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) may counter-regulate Streptococcus pneumoniae-related human lung epithelial cell activation using the potent pro-inflammatory chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) as a model molecule. Pneumococci induced KLF4 expression in human lung, primary human bronchial epithelial cells and the lung-epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract

Lactate as Substrate for Mitochondrial Respiration in Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells
Scientists examined lactate utilization by primary alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells and the ATII model cell line, MLE-15, and link lactate consumption directly to mitochondrial ATP generation. ATII cells cultured in lactate undergo mitochondrial respiration at near-maximal levels, twice the rates of those grown in glucose, and oxygen consumption under these conditions is directly linked to mitochondrial ATP generation. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Safranal of Crocus sativus L. Inhibits Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Attenuates Asthma in a Mouse Model of Asthma
Researchers evaluated of antioxidant potential of C. sativus and its main constituents, safranal and crocin, in bronchial epithelial cells, followed antiinflammatory potential of the active constituent safranal, in a murine model of asthma. [Phytother Res] Abstract

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ErbB2 Pathway Activation upon Smad4 Loss Promotes Lung Tumor Growth and Metastasis
Comparative transcriptomic and in vivo cistromic analyses determined that loss of PTEN and SMAD4 results in ELF3 and ErbB2 pathway activation due to decreased expression of ERRFI1, a negative regulator of ERBB2 in mouse and human cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Demethoxycurcumin-Carrying Chitosan-Antibody Core-Shell Nanoparticles with Multi-Therapeutic Efficacy toward Malignant A549 Lung Tumor-From In-Vitro Characterization to In-Vivo Evaluation
Cell culture experiments using normoxic and multidrug resistant hypoxic cells overexpressing EGFR confirmed improved demethoxycurcumin (DMC) delivery for anti-EGFR coated particles and revealed that the DMC was delivered to the cytoplasmic region of the cells, forming nano-precipitates in lysosomes and endosomes. [Mol Pharm] Abstract

The Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator as a Biomarker in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Knockdown of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in non-small cell lung cancer cells enhanced malignant behavior; in contrast, overexpression of CFTR suppressed cancer progression in vitro and in vivo. The tumor-suppressing effect of CFTR was associated with inhibition of multiple uPA/uPAR-mediated malignant traits in culture. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Matrine Induces Mitochondrial Apoptosis in Cisplatin-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells via Suppression of β-Catenin/Survivin Signaling
Investigators determined the cytotoxic effects of matrine on cisplatin-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells and the associated molecular mechanisms. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Sphingolipids as Cell Fate Regulators in Lung Development and Disease
The authors highlight the significance of sphingolipids in determining cell fate in the context of the healthy lung, as well as various respiratory diseases including acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis. [Apoptosis] Full Article

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Advanced Cell Diagnostics’ RNAscope Technology Supports Biomarker-Selected Phase II Clinical Trial of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals’ MM-121
Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Inc. (ACD) announced that Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is using ACD’s RNAscope technology to select patients for its Phase II clinical trial of its product candidate MM-121. Merrimack will utilize RNAscope to identify patients with heregulin positive, locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, making this Merrimack’s first MM-121 trial to include only patients with a high heregulin biomarker profile. [Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Inc.] Press Release

LUNGevity Foundation Celebrates Women Making History in Science
During Women’s History Month 2015, LUNGevity Foundation celebrated the women scientists whose passion, commitment, and research breakthroughs are making history in how we understand, detect and treat lung cancer, which affects over 220,000 new patients each year. [LUNGevity Foundation (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

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

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

PhD Studentship – Mouse Models of Asthma (University of Queensland)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Molecular Mechanisms of Lung Cancer, Lung Regeneration and Lung Development (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Fibrotic Lung Disease (University of California, San Diego)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Biology (Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research)

Director – Vector Production (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

Senior Process Development Engineer (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung Cancer Development and Progression (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

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