Pulmonary Cell News Volume 5.39 | Oct 6 2016

TOP STORY

Hyaluronan and TLR4 Promote Surfactant-Protein-C-Positive Alveolar Progenitor Cell Renewal and Prevent Severe Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice

The authors provide evidence that expression of the innate immune receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan on type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2s) are important for AEC2 renewal, repair of lung injury and limiting the extent of fibrosis. [Nat Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Tbx2 and Tbx3 Act Downstream of Shh to Maintain Canonical Wnt Signaling during Branching Morphogenesis of the Murine Lung

Researchers showed by analysis of conditional double mutants that the two T-box transcription factor genes Tbx2 and Tbx3 act together in the lung mesenchyme to maintain branching morphogenesis. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

HYDAMTIQ, a Selective PARP-1 Inhibitor, Improves Bleomycin-Induced Lung Fibrosis by Dampening the TGF-β/SMAD Signaling Pathway

Researchers investigated the effects of HYDAMTIQ, a potent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases-1 (PARP-1) inhibitor, in a murine model of lung fibrosis. They evaluated the role of PARP on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression and TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway in lungs. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Neutrophils Promote Alveolar Epithelial Regeneration by Enhancing Type II Pneumocyte Proliferation in a Model of Acid-Induced Acute Lung Injury

To determine if neutrophils influence alveolar epithelial repair in vivo, scientists developed a unilateral acid injury model that creates a severe yet survivable injury with features similar to acute respiratory distress syndrome. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Molecular Impact of Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Exposure in Human Bronchial Epithelium

Researchers sought to determine the molecular impact of electronic cigarette (ECIG) aerosol exposure in human bronchial epithelial cells. Gene expression profiling was conducted in primary human bronchial epithelial cells grown at Air Liquid Interface and exposed to one of four different ECIG aerosols, traditional cigarette smoke, or clean air. [Toxicol Sci] Abstract

MUC18 Regulates Lung Rhinovirus Infection and Inflammation

The in vivo role of MUC18 in the context of viral infections remains poorly understood. The goal of this study was to define the in vivo function of MUC18 during respiratory rhinovirus infection. [PLoS One] Full Article

Protocadherin-1 Localization and Cell-Adhesion Function in Airway Epithelial Cells in Asthma

The asthma gene PCDH1 encodes Protocadherin-1, a putative adhesion molecule of unknown function expressed in the airway epithelium. Scientists characterized the localization, differential expression, homotypic adhesion specificity and function of PCDH1 in airway epithelial cells in asthma. [PLoS One] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

ZEB1 Induces LOXL2-Mediated Collagen Stabilization and Deposition in the Extracellular Matrix to Drive Lung Cancer Invasion and Metastasis

Researchers investigated the collaborative effect of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix in the metastatic process, which revealed increased collagen deposition in metastatic tumor tissues as a direct consequence of amplified collagen gene expression in ZEB1-activated mesenchymal lung cancer cells. [Oncogene] Abstract

GL-9 Peptide Regulates Gene Expression of CD44 Cancer Marker and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine TNF-α in Human Lung Epithelial Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (A549)

Investigators examined cytotoxic effect of GL-9 peptide on A459 cell line through studying the changes in TNF-α and CD44 gene expression and ROS production. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the treated A549 cells highly over expressed TNF-α, which was associated with a significant reduction of CD44 gene expression levels. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

EGFR as a Pharmacological Target in EGFR-Mutant Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Where Do We Stand Now?

Ongoing clinical trials will provide evidence for optimal strategies for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant non-small-cell lung cancer in the near future. Numerous new agents are specifically addressing resistance mechanisms; mature data are related to the T790M mutation and MET pathway activation. The authors provide a comprehensive review of new perspectives on how to optimize the management of this molecular disease. [Trends Pharmacol Sci] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pulmonary cell research field.

Clinical Results Demonstrating the Performance of Biocept’s Target Selector Platform

Biocept, Inc. announced that clinical results featuring its liquid biopsy platform will be presented. Their results highlighting the concordance and clinical utility of detecting actionable biomarkers in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer will be presented by Lourdes Barrera, Ph.D., Diagnostics Manager, AstraZeneca Oncology BU, Mexico. [Press release from Biocept, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2016 European Society For Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress, Copenhagen] Press Release | Abstract

Dr. Allen Eaves of STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Named EY Entrepreneur of The Year^™ Pacific 2016

Dr. Allen Eaves, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of STEMCELL Technologies, a global biotechnology company that supplies tools and services to enable life science research, is this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific winner. [Ernst & Young (CNW Group Ltd.)] Press Release

Dr. Matthew L. Sherman Joins Pulmatrix’s Board of Directors

Pulmatrix, Inc. announced that the company has appointed Matthew L. Sherman, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company as a new member to its Board of Directors. [Pulmatrix, Inc.] Press Release

Dramatic Twists Could Upend Patent Battle over CRISPR Genome-Editing Method

The 9-month-old patent battle over CRISPR, a novel genome-editing tool that could have immense commercial value, has taken two surprising twists. Last week, attorneys for the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the research organizations vying for CRISPR rights, submitted motions that could let it win even if it loses. [Science Insider] Editorial

Democratic Databases: Science on GitHub

Scientists are turning to a software–development site to share data and code. [Nature Toolbox] Editorial

UK Bioethicists Eye Designer Babies and CRISPR Cows

From designer babies to engineered mosquitoes, advances in genome-editing technologies such as CRISPR–Cas9 have raised the possibility of tremendous scientific advances — and serious ethical concerns. [Nature News] Editorial

Biologists Plan Scoring System for Antibodies

Biomedical experts plan to create a scoring system that will help researchers choose reliable antibodies for their experiments. The only problems: figuring out how such a ranking would work — and getting manufacturers to adopt the standard. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW VII InterAmerican Oncology Conference
October 5-6, 2017
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Associate/Full Professor – Various Projects (University of California, San Francisco)

NEW Postdoctoral Training Fellow, Lung Cancer and Drug Resistance (Institute of Cancer Research)

Professor Position – Pulmonary Cell Research (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Lung Disease (Johns Hopkins University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Regenerative Medicine/Biomedical Science (University of California)

Scientist/Senior Scientist – Nanoparticle Research and Drug Delivery (Moderna Therapeutics)

Chair in Medical Biology – Head of the Department of Biology (Masaryk University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Directed Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Lung and Airway Epithelial Cells (Columbia University Medical Center)

Tenure-Track Faculty Positions – Inflammation and Inflammatory Lung Diseases (Temple University)

Director Clinical Research – Medical Oncology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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