Pulmonary Cell News Volume 4.38 | Oct 1 2015

Posttranscriptional Silencing of the lncRNA MALAT1 by miR-217 Inhibits the Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition via Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 in the Malignant Transformation of HBE Cells Induced by Cigarette Smoke Extract
The authors investigated the effects of an miRNA (miR-217) on levels of an lncRNA (MALAT1) and examined the role of these factors in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition induced by cigarette smoke extract in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. [Toxicol Appl Pharmacol] Abstract

Continuous Activation of Nrf2 and Its Target Antioxidant Enzymes Leads to Arsenite-Induced Malignant Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells
By establishing transformed human bronchial epithelial cells via chronic low-dose arsenite treatment, scientists showed that in acquiring this malignant phenotype, continuous low level of ROS and sustained enhancement of nuclear factor-erythroid-2 p45-related factor (Nrf2) and its target antioxidant enzymes levels were observed in the later-stage of arsenite-induced cell transformation. [Toxicol Appl Pharmacol] Abstract

Synergistic Proinflammatory Responses by IL-17A and Toll-Like Receptor 3 in Human Airway Epithelial Cells
Investigators demonstrated that IL-17A and polyI:C, the ligand of toll-like receptor 3, synergistically induced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, but not type I interferon in primary culture of normal human bronchial epithelial cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Wedelolactone Protects Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell Injury against Cigarette Smoke Extract-Induced Oxidant Stress and Inflammation Responses through Nrf2 Pathway
Scientists investigated the effects of wedelolactone (WEL) on normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cell injury induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) in vitro. They showed that the pretreatment WEL resulted in a significant protective effect on 10% CSE-induced cell death in NHBE cells. [Int Immunopharmacol] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

Ursolic Acid Exerts Anti-Cancer Activity by Suppressing Vaccinia-Related Kinase 1-Mediated Damage Repair in Lung Cancer Cells
Scientists found that ursolic acid (UA) inhibits the catalytic activity of vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) via direct binding to the catalytic domain of VRK1. UA weakens surveillance mechanisms by blocking 53BP1 foci formation induced by VRK1 in lung cancer cells, and possesses synergistic anti-cancer effects with DNA damaging drugs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

MiR-140-3p Suppressed Cell Growth and Invasion by Downregulating the Expression of ATP8A1 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Researchers identified MicroRNA (miR)-140-3p as a downregulated microRNA in most cancer tissues including lung cancer tissues, compared with their normal counterparts. MiR-140-3p was observed to perform its tumor suppressor function via its inhibition on cell growth, migration and invasion but its induction of cell apoptosis. [Tumour Biol] Abstract

The Iron Component of Particulate Matter Is Antiapoptotic: A Clue to the Development of Lung Cancer after Exposure to Atmospheric Pollutants?
The authors investigated transition metallic compounds, particularly iron, in order to decipher their underlying molecular mechanisms that prevent apoptosis. Human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed for four hours to different particulate matter samples with established antiapoptotic effect or not or to their metallic components before apoptosis induction by the calcium ionophore A23187 or Staurosporine. [Biochimie] Abstract

Placental Growth Factor Promotes Metastases of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer through MMP9
The authors found that placental growth factor (PLGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) levels both significantly increased in the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens and were strongly correlated. Overexpression of PLGF in NSCLC cells increased the levels of MMP9 and cell invasiveness, while inhibition of PLGF in NSCLC cells decreased the levels of MMP9 and cell invasiveness. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

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GIOTRIF^® (Afatinib) Demonstrates Superior Survival Compared to Tarceva^® (Erlotinib) for Patients with Previously Treated Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung, Independent of EGFR Mutation Status
Boehringer Ingelheim announced new data from the Phase III LUX-Lung 8 trial which further highlights the benefits of afatinib compared to erlotinib for the treatment of patients with previously treated advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. [Press release from Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH discussing research presented at the European Cancer Congress (ECC 2015), Vienna] Press Release

Novel Tool Can Identify COPD
A novel approach for the identification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been developed. The findings could speed up current diagnosis times for the disease and uncover COPD before serious exacerbations and further loss of lung function have occurred. [Press release from the European Lung Foundation discussing research presented at the European Respiratory Society’s (ERS) International Congress, Amsterdam] Press Release

New Data Demonstrate Sustained Long-Term Efficacy of OFEV^® on Slowing Disease Progression and Safety in Patients with IPF
An interim analysis of the INPULSIS^®-ON extension trial has confirmed the efficacy and safety of OFEV^® (nintedanib) previously observed in the INPULSIS^® trials. The results confirm that OFEV^® has a long-term effect on slowing disease progression and a manageable side effect profile in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). [Press release from Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH discussing research presented at the European Respiratory Society’s (ERS) International Congress, Amsterdam] Press Release

Severe Asthma Patients Less Responsive to Treatment
People with severe asthma, who are often described as ‘steroid-dependent’, are actually less likely to respond to the treatment they depend on, when compared to people with mild asthma. The study represents the first analysis of a cohort of patients from an unparalleled research project that will collect over three million samples from 300 children and 700 adults with severe and non-severe asthma, and without asthma. [Press release from the European Lung Foundation discussing research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress, Barcelona] Press Release

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PTC Therapeutics Submits European Application For Translarna™ for Cystic Fibrosis
PTC Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the European Medicines Agency has validated the submission of a variation for a new indication for Translarna™ (ataluren) for the treatment of nonsense mutation cystic fibrosis for patients not taking chronic inhaled aminoglycoside antibiotics. [PTC Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

NIH Awards $1.7 Million Grant for Celdara Medical and Pulmatrix to Develop an Inhaled Biologic Treatment for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Celdara Medical, LLC and Pulmatrix, Inc. announced that the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health has awarded a three-year, $1.7 million Fast Track Small Business Innovation Research grant to fund the companies’ development of an inhaled biologic to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. [Pulmatrix, Inc.] Press Release

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Announces 2015 Research Fund to Cure Pulmonary Fibrosis Award Recipients
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) announced the recipients of the 2015 Established Investigator and Junior Investigator Awards. The Established Investigator and Junior Investigator Awards are funded by the PFF’s Research Fund to Cure Pulmonary Fibrosis and are intended to support advances in the scientific understanding and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. [Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation] Press Release

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Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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Postdoctoral Fellowships – Chronic Heart or Lung Disease (University of British Columbia)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Asthma (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Autoimmune Diseases Affecting the Lung (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Epigenetic Modifiers (Van Andel Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Small Cell Lung Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung Cancer (Van Andel Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer and Molecular Imaging (University of Michigan)

Postdoctoral Fellow – HMGA Chromatin Remodeling Proteins in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Airway Diseases (GlaxoSmithKline)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pulmonary Fibrosis (University of Colorado School of Medicine)

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