Glyoxalase I Drives Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition via Argpyrimidine-Modified Hsp70, miR-21 and SMAD Signaling in Human Bronchial Cells BEAS-2B Chronically Exposed to Crystalline Silica Min-U-Sil 5: Transformation into a Neoplastic-Like Phenotype Researchers investigated whether, and by means of which mechanism, the antiglycation defense glyoxalase I is involved in Min-U-Sil 5 crystalline silica-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells chronically exposed, and whether this is associated with the beginning of a neoplastic-like transformation process. [Free Radic Biol Med] Abstract Protective Effect of Ac-SDKP on Alveolar Epithelial Cells through Inhibition of EMT via TGF-β1/ROCK1 Pathway in Silicosis in Rat Investigators examined the effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) upon epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) using an in vivo rat silicosis model, as well as in an in vitro model of TGF-β1-induced EMT. [Toxicol Appl Pharmacol] Abstract SATB2 Expression Increased Anchorage-Independent Growth and Cell Migration in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Researchers showed that ectopic expression of special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (SATB2) in the normal human bronchial epithelial cell-line BEAS-2B increased anchorage-independent growth and cell migration, meanwhile, shRNA-mediated knockdown of SATB2 significantly decreased anchorage-independent growth in Ni transformed BEAS-2B cells. [Toxicol Appl Pharmacol] Abstract Cadmium Induces Mucin 8 Expression via Toll-Like Receptor 4–Mediated Extracellular Signal Related Kinase 1/2 and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Human Airway Epithelial Cells The authors investigated the effect and the brief signaling pathway of cadmium on expression of mucin genes in human airway epithelial cells. In mucin-producing human NCI-H292 airway epithelial cells and primary cultures of normal nasal epithelial cells, the effect and signaling pathway of cadmium on expression of mucin genes were investigated. [Int Forum Allergy Rhinol] Abstract Functional and Cytometric Examination of Different Human Lung Epithelial Cell Types as Drug Transport Barriers Side-by-side experiments were performed to compare the structure and transport function of three lung epithelial cells. The cells were cultured on the nucleopore membranes in the air–liquid interface culture conditions, with cell culture medium in the basolateral side only, starting from day 1. [Arch Pharm Res] Abstract LUNG CANCER Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Is a Barrier to KRAS-Driven Inflammation and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Scientists showed that polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is a critical regulator of KRAS-driven non-small cell lung cancer progression. Modulation of PRC2 by either Ezh2 overexpression or Eed deletion enhances KRAS-driven adenomagenesis and inflammation, respectively. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Tankyrase Inhibition Impairs Directional Migration and Invasion of Lung Cancer Cells by Affecting Microtubule Dynamics and Polarity Signals Using a panel of lung cancer cell lines as a model system, scientists found that abrogation of tankyrase activity by two different, structurally unrelated small-molecule inhibitors or by RNA interference-based genetic silencing weakened cell migration, invasion, and directional movement induced by the motogenic cytokine hepatocyte growth factor. [BMC Biol] Full Article Downregulation of miR-522 Suppresses Proliferation and Metastasis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Directly Targeting DENN/MADD Domain Containing 2D Investigators report that microRNA (miR)-522 expression was significantly increased in both human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, an MTT assay, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine assay kit and flow cytometry confirmed that the inhibition of miR-522 suppressed NSCLC cells proliferation and induced apoptosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article Interleukin-33 Enhances Programmed Oncosis of ST2L-Positive Low-Metastatic Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment of Lung Cancer Researchers showed that ST2 was significantly downregulated in human lung cancer tissues and cells compared with normal lung tissues and cells. Interleukin-33 expression was also inversely correlated with the stages of human lung cancers. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Mucin 1-Mediated Chemo-Resistance in Lung Cancer Cells The authors demonstrated that non-small cell lung cancers survive paclitaxel (PTX) treatment. Compared with the progenitor non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells, the PTX-resistant A549 cells displayed enhanced sphere-formation ability. [Oncogenesis] Full Article |