Pulmonary Cell News Volume 4.15 | Apr 23 2015

The Role of Alveolar Epithelial Type II-Like Cells in Uptake of Structurally Different Antigens and in Polarization of Local Immune Responses
The three-dimensional Bet v 1 and the T cell epitope peptide of Bet v 1 were labelled with 5,6-carboxyfluorescein and their uptake was investigated in lung cells and cells of the nasal associated lymphoid tissue from naive and sensitised BALB/c mice. [PLoS One] Full Article

Modulation of Sterol Biosynthesis Regulates Viral Replication and Cytokine Production in Influenza A Virus Infected Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Scientists evaluated the undefined roles of sterol metabolic pathway in viral replication and cytokine induction by H5N1 virus in human alveolar epithelial cells. [Antiviral Res] Abstract

RIG-I and TLR3 Are Both Required for Maximum Interferon Induction by Influenza Virus in Human Lung Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Scientists investigated interferon (IFN) induction by influenza A virus (IAV) in the A549 cell line as well as in primary human alveolar epithelial cells. They found that Toll-like receptor 7 and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing protein 2 were not involved in IFN induction by IAV in these cells. [Virology] Abstract

Daidzein Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Toll-Like Receptor 4/NF-KappaB Pathway
In vitro, daidzein obviously inhibited the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 and the activation of NF-κB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated A549 alveolar epithelial cells. [Int Immunopharmacol] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

K-Ras Promotes the Non-Small Lung Cancer Cells Survival by Cooperating with Sirtuin 1 and p27 under ROS Stimulation
Scientists studied the signaling processes associated between tobacco exposure and lung cancer. They detected and validated pathway-specific gene expression at bronchial epithelium. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

A Carbazole Alkaloid Deactivates mTOR through the Suppression of Rictor and that Induces Apoptosis in Lung Cancer Cells
The authors demonstrated that suppression of rictor expression in A549 and H1299 non-small cell lung cancer cells by mahanine, a carbazole alkaloid, disrupted constitutive activation of mTOR and Akt. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

2-Methoxy-1,4-Naphthoquinone (MNQ) Induces Apoptosis of A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells via Oxidation-Triggered JNK and p38 MAPK Signaling Pathways
Investigators explored the molecular mechanism of MNQ-induced cytotoxicity of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. MNQ induced apoptosis of A549 cells independent of cell cycle arrest, and is mediated by the JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. [Life Sci] Abstract

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MD Anderson Study Points to Potential New Lung Cancer Therapy
New findings about regulation of PD-L1, a protein that allows cancer to evade the immune system, has shown therapeutic promise for several cancers, including the most common form of lung cancer. [Press release from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discussing research presented at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia] Press Release

Blend Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data for Lead Candidate BTP-114 that Demonstrated Superiority to Cisplatin in Tumor Growth Inhibition
Blend Therapeutics, Inc. presented preclinical data on BTP-114, a novel personalized cisplatin prodrug, with demonstration of improved and sustained tumor growth inhibition in preclinical models as compared to the conventional platinum cytotoxic cancer drug, cisplatin. [Press release from Blend Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia] Press Release

DelMar Pharmaceuticals Presents Positive Preclinical Data on VAL-083 for Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced positive preclinical data on its lead product candidate VAL-083 (dianhydrogalactitol) for treatment of platinum drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and as a potential combination therapy option in newly diagnosed NSCLC patients. [Press release from DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia] Press Release

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New SU2C-American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Dream Team Announced
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the American Cancer Society announced the formation of a $20 million Dream Team to attack the number one cancer killer in America, lung cancer, at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. [Stand Up To Cancer] Press Release

Pfizer Receives U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for XALKORI^® (Crizotinib) for the Treatment of Patients with ROS1-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Pfizer Inc. announced that XALKORI^® received breakthrough therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the potential treatment of patients with ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. [Pfizer Inc.] Press Release

Imugene Files New HER-Vaxx Patent
Imugene Limited announced the filing of a new provisional patent titled, “A Vaccine Composition and Uses Thereof”, potentially extending HER-Vaxx patent life to 2036. [Imugene Limited] Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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

PhD Student – Molecular Biology and Medicine of the Lung (Philipps-Universität Marburg)

Professorship – Lung Epithelial Cell Plasticity (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat München)

PhD Position – Development of a 3D In Vitro Model of Infected Airway (Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research)

PhD Studentship – Cystic Fibrosis (University of East Anglia)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Pulmonary Genetic Medicine (Cornell University)

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

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

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

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