Pulmonary Cell News 6.36 September 14, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYEpigenetic Changes from Cigarette Smoke May Be First Step in Lung Cancer Development Scientists have preliminary evidence in laboratory-grown, human airway cells that a condensed form of cigarette smoke triggers so-called “epigenetic” changes in the cells consistent with the earliest steps toward lung cancer development. [Press release from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in Cancer Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)DNA Methylation Changes in Human Lung Epithelial Cells Exposed to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Scientists aimed to determine the possible role of certain epigenetic mechanisms in the cellular response of human lung epithelial cells that are triggered by long-term exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. They showed that exposure to TiO2NPs had only minor effects on genome-wide DNA methylation. [Nanotoxicology] Abstract Researchers validated the decreased expression of miR-503 in the fibrotic mouse lung tissues, human bronchial epithelial cells and human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells which were exposed to silica. Overexpressed miR-503 inhibited silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis by attenuating the severity and the distribution of lesions in vivo and limiting the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro. [Sci Rep] Full Article Using a Novel Microfabricated Model of the Alveolar-Capillary Barrier The authors have developed a novel in vitro platform that mimics the micro/nano-scale architecture of the alveolar microenvironment and have used this system to investigate how extracelluar matrix microstructural properties influence epithelial cell injury during airway reopening. [Sci Rep] Full Article IL-17A is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the modulation of fibrosis. Scientists studied the changes associated with 1L-17A mediated up-regulation of p53 and PAI-1 expression and the role of curcumin in attenuating this process. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract The authors found that stimulation of the BK B2 receptor, but not the BK B1 receptor, induced phosphorylation of EGFR at Ser1047. Pharmacological experiments indicated that both ERK and p38 MAPK were involved in the phosphorylation of EGFR. These results strongly suggested that BK regulates EGFR functions in lung alveolar epithelial cells. [Pulm Pharmacol Ther] Abstract LUNG CANCERInvestigators derived an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related miRNA signature by profiling the abundance of miRNAs in a panel of epithelial or mesenchymal (KM) KRAS mutant non–small cell lung cancers cell (NSCLC) lines. This signature revealed a number of suppressed miRNAs in KM cell lines, including members of the miR-200 family, which can suppress tumor progression by inhibiting EMT. [Sci Signal] Abstract Scientists aimed to identify circulating miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers and investigate treatment target for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In stage I-II NSCLC patients, they screened and validated miRNA ratio signatures predictive of prognosis in serum. In tumor, they found that the expression of miR-150 in identified miRNA signatures was also associated with survival. Increased miR-150 expression promoted NSCLC cell proliferation and migration and vice versa. [Clin Pharmacol Ther] Abstract The authors provided evidence to support the involvement of PD-L1 expression in the invasiveness and TKI resistance in non–small cell lung cancer cells by increased Bcl-2-associated athanogene-1 (BAG-1) expression. The upregulation of BAG-1 transcription by PD-L1 was verified by constructing the BAG-1 promoters using the polymerase chain reaction and deletion mutations for luciferase reporter assays. [Eur J Cancer] Abstract Scientists analyzed the expression of exocrine marker napsin A, along with TTF-1, in a large series of large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, and performed detailed clinicopathologic and genomic analysis of napsin A-positive cases. [Mod Pathol] Abstract Researchers assessed tumoral PD-L1 expression using clones E1L3N and SP142 in 372 primary resected pulmonary squamous cell carcinomas, including 40 paired N2 lymph node metastases, in relation with clinico-pathological parameters. [Mod Pathol] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSIntersectin-1s Deficiency in Pulmonary Pathogenesis Intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s), a multidomain adaptor protein, plays a vital role in endocytosis, cytoskeleton rearrangement and cell signaling. Recent studies have demonstrated that deficiency of ITSN-1s is a crucial early event in pulmonary pathogenesis. In lung cancer, ITSN-1s deficiency impairs Eps8 ubiquitination and favors Eps8-mSos1 interaction which activates Rac1 leading to enhanced lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and metastasis. [Respir Res] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pulmonary cell research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSAstraZeneca and MedImmune have presented the full progression-free survival (PFS) data from a planned interim analysis of the Phase III PACIFIC trial. [Press release from AstraZeneca discussing research presented at European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress, Madrid] Press Release Merck announced updated results from Cohort G of the Phase II KEYNOTE-021 trial investigating KEYTRUDA®, the company’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with pemetrexed and carboplatin in patients with previously untreated advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, with or without PD-L1 expression. [Press release from Merck discussing research presented at European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress, Madrid] Press Release Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced three-year overall survival data from CheckMate -017 and CheckMate -057, two pivotal Phase III randomized studies evaluating Opdivo versus docetaxel in patients with previously treated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. [Press release from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discussing research presented at European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress, Madrid] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi announced that the pivotal Phase III LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST study of dupilumab in a broad population of patients with uncontrolled, persistent asthma met its two primary endpoints. Dupilumab, when added to standard therapies, reduced severe asthma attacks and improved lung function. [Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release Transgene announced that the FDA has granted Transgene Investigational New Drug clearance to proceed with a Phase II clinical trial of TG4010 in combination with Opdivo® and chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in the USA. [Transgene] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSUK Gender-Equality Scheme Spreads across the World A program that grades UK universities on gender equality in science is going global. Versions of the rating scheme have started up in the past two years in Australia and Ireland, and a small-scale pilot begins next month in the United States. [Nature News] Editorial Congress Rejects Trump Proposals to Cut Health Research Funds Congress has not only rejected the president’s National Institutes of Health proposal; lawmakers from both parties have joined forces to increase spending on biomedical research — and have bragged about it. [The New York Times] Editorial After Uproar, U.K. Parliament’s Science Committee Now Has a Female Member The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee tweeted that it was “pleased to announced our membership has been confirmed.” Parliamentary committees had been dissolved after the recent U.K. election, and now the panel was rolling out its new contingent of lawmakers. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 2018 Canadian Respiratory Conference (CRC) Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Non-Small-Cell-Lung-Cancer (University of Gothenburg) PhD Position(s) – Cancer Biology (VIB-KULEUVEN Center for Cancer Biology) Postdoctoral Fellow – Pulmonary Fibrosis (University of Michigan) Postdoctoral Fellow – Pulmonary Research (University of Maryland) Postdoctoral Position – Cardio/Pulmonary/Mitochondrial Research (University of Pittsburgh) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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