Pulmonary Cell News Volume 6.33 | Aug 24 2017

TOP STORY

The IL-17F/IL-17RC Axis Promotes Respiratory Allergy in the Proximal Airways

Signaling through interleukin 17 (IL-17) RA was required for efficient microbial clearance and prevention of allergy; in the absence of IL-17RA, signaling through IL-17RC on epithelial cells, predominantly by IL-17F, significantly exacerbated lower airway Aspergillus or Pseudomonas infection and allergic airway inflammation. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IDH3 Mediates Apoptosis of Alveolar Epithelial Cells Type 2 Due to Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ Uptake during Hypocapnia

Using fluorescent live-cell imaging of cultured alveolar epithelial cell type 2, scientists showed that in terms of CO₂ sensing the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 3 was an important player. Hypocapnia resulted independently from pH in an elevation of IDH3 activity and subsequently in an increase of NADH, the substrate of the respiratory chain. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

The Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Six Essential Oils and Their Cyto/Genotoxicity to Human HEL 12469 Cells

Oregano, thyme, clove and arborvitae showed very strong antibacterial activity against all tested strains at both full strength and reduced concentrations. The genotoxic effects of these oils on HEL 12469 human embryo lung cells were evaluated using an alkaline comet assay, revealing that none of the oils induced significant DNA damage in vitro after 24 hours. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Oligopeptide Transport in Rat Lung Alveolar Epithelial Cells Is Mediated by Pept2

Investigators conducted studies in primary cultured rat alveolar epithelial cell monolayers to characterize peptide transporter expression and function. They confirmed the absence of Pept1 from rat lung alveolar epithelium in vitro. [Pharm Res] Abstract

VEGF Synthesis Is Induced by Prostacyclin and TGF-β in Distal Lung Fibroblasts from COPD Patients and Control Subjects: Implications for Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling

The authors studied the synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interactions with prostacyclin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in lung fibroblasts from patients with COPD and healthy control subjects. To further explore the autocrine role of synthesized VEGF on fibroblast activity, studies were performed in human lung fibroblasts. [Respirology] Abstract

Variable Stretch Reduces the Pro-Inflammatory Response of Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Scientists hypothesized that variable stretch of LPS-stimulated alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to non-variable stretch. AECs were subjected to non-variable or variable cyclic stretch, with and without LPS stimulation. In LPS-stimulated AECs, variable cyclic cell stretching led to reduced cytokine expression and release compared to non-variable cell stretching. [PLoS One] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

Apatinib Enhances Antitumor Activity of EGFR-TKIs in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with EGFR-TKI Resistance

Considering the high interrelation between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor pathways, the authors evaluated EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined with apatinib in EGFR-TKI-resistant model and patients. Gefitinib plus apatinib strengthened the effect of gefitinib and apatinib alone on the four non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, and H1975 was the most susceptible one. [Eur J Cancer] Abstract

MicroRNA-218 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Lung Cancer by Targeting IL-6/STAT3 and Negatively Correlates with Poor Prognosis

Scientists evaluated the expression and function of miR-218 in human lung cancer and aldehyde dehydrogenase positive lung cancer cells to understand the potential mechanisms responsible for disease pathology. They observed that the expression of miR-218 was significantly down-regulated in lung cancer tissues compared to normal lung tissues. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

TRAF4 Promotes Lung Cancer Aggressiveness by Modulating Tumor Microenvironment in Normal Fibroblasts

The authors found that radiation induced the expression and K63-linkage poly-ubiquitination of TRAF4 in normal lung fibroblasts. The K63-linkage poly-ubiquitinated TRAF4 formed complexes with NOX2 or NOX4 by mediating phosphorylated p47-phox in normal lung fibroblasts. [Sci Rep] Full Article

MicroRNA-34a/EGFR Axis Plays Pivotal Roles in Lung Tumorigenesis

Investigators revealed that miR-34a is significantly downregulated in non-small-cell lung cancer tissues and cell lines, suggesting that miR-34a might function as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer. They confirmed that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a direct target of miR-34a, and their data revealed that siRNA knockdown of EGFR can inhibit cell proliferation, promote apoptosis and arrest cell-cycle progression. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

MiR-641 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor by Targeting MDM2 in Human Lung Cancer

Researchers evaluated the role of miR-641 in human lung cancer A549 cells. The expression of miR-641 was down-regulated in lung cancer tissues and lung cancer cell lines. Overexpression of miR-641 significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells. [Oncol Res] Abstract

Overview on Biological Implications of Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Exposure to Human Alveolar A549 Cell Line

Understanding nanoparticle induced cellular stress can greatly help design strategies to combat them. The authors summarize cellular responses as a direct consequence of metal oxide nanoparticle exposure on human alveolar (A549) cells. [Nanotoxicology] Abstract

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

Kadmon to Present Preclinical Data on ROCK Inhibition in Pulmonary Fibrosis

Kadmon Holdings, Inc. announced that it presented preclinical data demonstrating the therapeutic potential of the Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway in pulmonary fibrosis. [Press release from Kadmon Holdings, Inc. discussing research presented at the Inaugural Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Summit 2017, Boston] Press Release

Ethris Enters Strategic Collaboration with AstraZeneca and MedImmune to Develop mRNA Therapies for Respiratory Diseases

Ethris GmbH announced a five-year strategic research collaboration with AstraZeneca and its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune. The collaboration is focused on developing new stabilized non-immunogenic modified RNA therapies for respiratory diseases using Ethris’ proprietary SNIM^®RNA technology. [Ethris GmbH] Press Release

Champions Oncology Announces Strategic Collaboration with AstraZeneca to Develop Unique Cohorts of Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) Models

Champions Oncology, Inc. announced a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop novel cohorts of PDX models. These models will be used in AstraZeneca’s oncology R&D programs in breast and lung cancer, in addition to being added to Champions’ existing TumorGraft bank for translational oncology research for academic and industry customers. [Champions Oncology, Inc.] Press Release

CPRIT Awards $13M for Prevention, Research, Recruitment

Researchers in the NCI-designated Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center have received $13,107,956 from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) for six new grants focused on evidence-based cancer prevention services, the recruitment of an established investigator, individual investigator and early translational research and core facility support. [Baylor College of Medicine] Press Release

Vertex Announces Acceptance of Its Applications for Review of the Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Combination Treatment in People with Cystic Fibrosis by the FDA and EMA

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced the acceptance of its applications for the use of the tezacaftor/ivacaftor combination treatment in people with CF ages 12 and older who have two copies of the F508del mutation or one F508del mutation and one residual function mutation that is responsive to tezacaftor/ivacaftor by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). [Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release

Drs. Mehmet Altan, Valsamo Anagnostou, and Zofia Piotrowska Receive 2017 LUNGevity Career Development Awards

LUNGevity Foundation announced the recipients of its 2017 Career Development Awards for lung cancer research. These coveted awards fund critical lung cancer research projects and offer the recipients world-class mentorship by LUNGevity’s prestigious Scientific Advisory Board. [LUNGevity Foundation] Press Release

Biomedical Ph.D. Program at Major Research University Drops GRE Requirement for Admission

The University of Michigan’s biomedical sciences graduate program announced that it will no longer require GRE scores for its Ph.D. admissions. Following a review of the available evidence and a public discussion involving the program’s faculty, staff, and trainees, the exam’s ability to predict student performance seems “weak at best” while it significantly disadvantages women, minorities, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, writes Scott Barolo, director of the Program in Biomedical Sciences, in the announcement. [Science Careers] Editorial

A Bold Open-Access Push in Germany Could Change the Future of Academic Publishing

Over the past two years, more than 150 German libraries, universities, and research institutes have formed a united front trying to force academic publishers into a new way of doing business. Instead of buying subscriptions to specific journals, consortium members want to pay publishers an annual lump sum that covers publication costs of all papers whose first authors are at German institutions. Those papers would be freely available around the world; meanwhile, German institutions would receive access to all the publishers’ online content. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Leaked Documents Expose Long-Standing Gender Tensions at Salk Institute

Senior female faculty at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies raise more than twice as much in National Institutes of Health funding for scientists working in their labs as their male counterparts, according to a 2016 internal report on “faculty issues” requested by leaders of the San Diego, California institution. Yet Salk leaders favored male scientists by granting them greater access to internal funds and other resources, the report implies, echoing gender discrimination lawsuits filed last month against the research center. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2018
April 11-14, 2018
Geneva, Switzerland

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

NEW Clinical Research Fellow – Respiratory Medicine (University of Oxford)

NEW Faculty Positions – Lung Injury/Repair and Pulmonary Infectious Diseases (University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Pulmonary Fibrosis (University of Michigan)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Pathobiology of Fibrotic Lung Diseases (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Childhood Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)

Physician Scientist or Senior Scientist – Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pulmonary Research (University of Maryland)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardio/Pulmonary/Mitochondrial Research (University of Pittsburgh)

Faculty Position – Cancer Biology (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell Signaling/Cancer Biology (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Allergy and Immunology (New York University Medical Center)

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