The Dual Phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 Inhibitor RPL554 Stimulates CFTR and Ciliary Beating in Primary Cultures of Bronchial Epithelia Scientists demonstrated that phosphodiesterase inhibition by RPL554, a drug which has been shown to cause bronchodilation in asthma and COPD patients, stimulates CFTR-dependent ion secretion across bronchial epithelial cells isolated from patients carrying the R117H/F508del cystic fibrosis genotype. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract Combinations of Differentiation Markers Distinguish Subpopulations of Alveolar Epithelial Cells in Adult Lung The authors investigated if subpopulations of alveolar epithelial cells exist that represent various stages in transdifferentiation from alveolar type II to alveolar type I cell phenotypes in normal adult lung and if they can be identified using combinations of cell-specific markers. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract Monomethylarsonous Acid (MMAIII) Has an Adverse Effect on the Innate Immune Response of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells to Pseudomonas aeruginosa This study examined the effects on P. aeruginosa induced cytokine secretion by human bronchial epithelial cells by inorganic sodium arsenite and two major metabolites, MMAIII and dimethylarsenic acid, at concentrations relevant to the U.S. population. [PLoS One] Full Article Wnt5a Reverses the Inhibitory Effect of Hyperoxia on Transdifferentiation of Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells to Type I Cells Alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECIIs) transfected with Wnt5a gene and exogenous Wnt5a were used to examine whether Wnt5a contributes to the transdifferentiation of AECIIs to AECIs. Scientists showed that hyperoxia inhibited the transdifferentiation of AECIIs to AECIs in vitro, which is represented by biomarkers of two types of cell that remained unchanged. [J Physiol Biochem] Abstract LUNG CANCER Depleting Tumor-NQO1 Potentiates Anoikis and Inhibits Growth of NSCLC Researchers discovered that depleting NAD(P)H/quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) expression in A549 and H292 lung adenocarcinoma cells caused an increase in reactive oxygen species formation, inhibited anchorage-independent growth, increased anoikis sensitization and decreased 3D tumor-spheroid invasion. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract Critical Role of miR-155/FoxO1/ROS Axis in the Regulation of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinomas The authors evaluated the role of miR-155 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell proliferation and explored the possible molecular mechanisms. They found that miR-155 expression was increased in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. [Tumor Biol] Abstract Fra-1 Is Upregulated in Lung Cancer Tissues and Inhibits the Apoptosis of Lung Cancer Cells by the P53 Signaling Pathway Investigators showed that fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1) was overexpressed in the lung cancer tissues when compared with the level in the adjacent non-cancerous tissues. To explore the possible mechanism of Fra-1 in lung cancer, they elucidated the effect of Fra-1 on the apoptosis of lung cancer H460 cells, and found that the rate of cell apoptosis was decreased in the H460/Fra-1 cells compared with the H460 or H460/vector cells. [Oncol Rep] Abstract Effects of 2-Methoxyestradiol on Apoptosis and HIF-1α and HIF-2α Expression in Lung Cancer Cells under Normoxia and Hypoxia Researchers compared the effects of 2-methoxyestradiol on cell growth, apoptosis, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and HIF-2α gene and protein expression in A549 cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. [Oncol Rep] Abstract Del-1 Overexpression Potentiates Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion Scientists investigated the effect of developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del-1) on the features of human lung carcinoma cells. Del-1 mRNA was found to be significantly decreased in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549, H1299 and EKVX, compared to in human normal lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells and MRC-5 fibroblasts. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract |