Pulmonary Cell News Volume 4.11 | Mar 26 2015

The hsa-miR-125a/hsa-let-7e/hsa-miR-99b Cluster Is Potentially Implicated in Cystic Fibrosis Pathogenesis
Using a cell based model, scientists analyzed whether expression of DeltaF508-cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) influences the expression of mature hsa-miR-99b, hsa-let-7e, and hsa-miR-125a. They found that hsa-miR-99b and hsa-miR-125a were significantly increased in DeltaF508-CFTR expressing cells. [J Cyst Fibros] Abstract

Paraquat Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Like Cellular Response Resulting in Fibrogenesis and the Prevention of Apoptosis in Human Pulmonary Epithelial Cells
Researchers examined the possibility that epithelial-mesenchymal transition is involved in pulmonary fibrosis during paraquat (PQ) poisoning using A549 human alveolar epithelial cells in vitro. Short-term high-dose treatments with PQ induced cell death accompanied by the activation of caspase9 as well as a decrease in E-cadherin, suggesting apoptotic cell death with the features of anoikis. [PLoS One] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

PCAF-Primed EZH2 Acetylation Regulates Its Stability and Promotes Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression
Scientists report that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is acetylated by acetyltransferase P300/CBP-associated factor and is deacetylated by deacetylase SIRT1. Functionally, EZH2 K348 acetylation enhances its capacity in suppression of the target genes and promotes lung cancer cell migration and invasion. [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article

The miR-200 Family and the miR-183~96~182 Cluster Target Foxf2 to Inhibit Invasion and Metastasis in Lung Cancers
Scientists identified that the expression of microRNAs from the miR-200 family and the miR-183~96~182 cluster are significantly co-repressed in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and primary tumors from multiple TCGA dataset with high epithelial-mesenchymal transition scores. [Oncogene] Abstract

Chronic Inorganic Arsenic Exposure In Vitro Induces a Cancer Cell Phenotype in Human Peripheral Lung Epithelial Cells
Researchers studied the ability of chronic inorganic arsenic exposure to induce a cancer phenotype in the immortalized, non-tumorigenic human lung peripheral epithelial cell line, HPL-1D. [Toxicol Appl Pharmacol] Abstract

Chloroquine Enhances Gefitinib Cytotoxicity in Gefitinib-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells
Scientists investigated the involvement of autophagy in gefitinib resistance. They developed gefitinib-resistant cells (PC-9/gef) from PC-9 cells after long-term exposure in gefitinib. PC-9/gef cells were 200-fold more resistant to gefitinib than PC-9/wt cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Mitofusin-2 Over-Expresses and Leads to Dysregulation of Cell Cycle and Cell Invasion in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Researchers investigated the impact of mitofusin-2 (MFN2) knockdown on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells and showed that cell proliferation, cell cycle and invasion behavior were all deregulated by MFN2 knockdown. [Med Oncol] Abstract

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Vertex Announces Data from 12-Week Phase II Safety Study of VX-661 in Combination with Ivacaftor in People with Cystic Fibrosis who Have Two Copies of the F508del Mutation
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced data from a 12-week Phase II study evaluating VX-661 in combination with ivacaftor in 39 people with CF ages 18 and older who have two copies of the F508del mutation. [Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Pulmonary Genetic Medicine (Cornell University)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Pulmonary Developmental Pathology (Drexel University College of Medicine)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Airway Disease and Inflammation (Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Mechanisms of Pulmonary Fibrosis (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

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)

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