Pulmonary Cell News Volume 6.41 | Oct 19 2017

TOP STORY

PEBP1 Wardens Ferroptosis by Enabling Lipoxygenase Generation of Lipid Death Signals

Investigators demonstrated the importance of PEBP1-dependent regulatory mechanisms of ferroptotic death in airway epithelial cells in asthma, kidney epithelial cells in renal failure, and cortical and hippocampal neurons in brain trauma. [Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

MicroRNA-181b Is Increased in Cystic Fibrosis Cells and Impairs Lipoxin A₄ Receptor-Dependent Mechanisms of Inflammation Resolution and Antimicrobial Defense

The authors examined whether the miR-181b-ALX/FPR2 circuit was altered in CF. They examined human airways epithelial cells, normal, carrying the ΔF508 mutation or corrected for this mutation, as well as monocyte-derived macrophages from CF patients. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Vildagliptin Ameliorates Pulmonary Fibrosis in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury by Inhibiting Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

Researchers investigated the anti-endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition effects of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor vildagliptin in pulmonary fibrosis after systemic endotoxemic injury. [Respir Res] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

TRPA1–FGFR2 Binding Event Is a Regulatory Oncogenic Driver Modulated by MiRNA-142-3p

Scientists report that the N-terminal ankyrin repeats of transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) directly bind to the C-terminal proline-rich motif of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) inducing the constitutive activation of the receptor, thereby prompting lung adenocarcinoma progression and metastasis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

NatD Promotes Lung Cancer Progression by Preventing Histone H4 Serine Phosphorylation to Activate Slug Expression

Researchers report that N-α-acetyltransferase D (NatD) promoted the migratory and invasive capabilities of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Depletion of NatD suppressed the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lung cancer cells by directly repressing the expression of transcription factor Slug, a key regulator of EMT. [Nat Commun] Full Article

RAD50 Expression Is Associated with Poor Clinical Outcomes after Radiotherapy for Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The authors used reverse-phase protein arrays to profile the baseline expression of 170 total and phosphorylated proteins in 70 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines to categorize pathways that may contribute to radiation resistance. They confirmed that knockdown of RAD50 sensitized NSCLC cells to radiation and that upregulation of RAD50 increased radioresistance in in vitro experiments. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Downregulation of NMI Promotes Tumor Growth and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Human Lung Adenocarcinomas

Investigators found that N-myc (and STAT) interactor (NMI) was highly expressed in normal lung cells and tissues, but lowly expressed in lung cancer cells and tissues. Overexpression of NMI induced apoptosis, suppressed lung cancer cell growth and migration, which were mediated by up-regulation of the cleaved caspase-3/9 and down-regulation of phosphorylated PI3K/AKT, MMP2/MMP9, β-cadherin, and COX-2/PGE2. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

A Long Non-Coding RNA HOTTIP Expression Is Associated with Disease Progression and Predicts Outcome in Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Scientists report lncRNA HOXA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP), which is specifically amplified in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), was associated with SCLC proliferation and poor prognosis of patients. The role of HOTTIP in SCLC cell proliferation was demonstrated by CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry analysis and in vivo SCLC xenograft model in nude mice through HOTTIP loss- and gain-of-function effects. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

Ailanthone Inhibits Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Growth through Repressing DNA Replication via Downregulating RPA1

Ailanthone suppressed non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) cell growth and colony formation in vitro and inhibited NSCLC tumor growth in subcutaneously xenografted and orthotopic lung tumor models, leading to prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Th17 Cytokines: Novel Potential Therapeutic Targets for COPD Pathogenesis and Exacerbations

Researchers describe current knowledge on the involvement of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 in COPD pathophysiology at steady state and during exacerbations, and discuss implications for COPD management and future therapeutic approaches. [Eur Respir J] Abstract

Notch Signaling; Linking Embryonic Lung Development and Asthmatic Airway Remodeling

Scientists summarized all recent advances associated with the mechanistic role of Notch signaling in lung development, consequences of aberrant expression or deletion of Notch signaling in linking early-impaired lung development and asthmatic airway remodeling, and all possible recent potential therapeutic strategies to treat asthmatic airway remodeling. [Mol Pharmacol] Full Article

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

Chi-Med and AstraZeneca’s Savolitinib Shows Encouraging Clinical Activity in Second-Line EGFR Mutation-Positive Lung Cancer with MET-Amplification

Hutchison China MediTech Limited (Chi-Med) and AstraZeneca PLC presented preliminary safety and clinical activity data of savolitinib when given in combination with either Tagrisso^® or Iressa^® in two Phase Ib/II proof-of-concept trials conducted in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer with mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET)-amplification who had progressed following first-line treatment with an EGFR inhibitor. [Press release from Hutchison China MediTech Limited discussing research presented at International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18^th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), Yokohama, Japan] Press Release

Final Data on Phase I/II in Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Zepsyre^®

PharmaMar presented updated data from Zepsyre Phase I/II trials in relapse small cell lung cancer. [Press release from PharmaMar discussing research presented at International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18^th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), Yokohama, Japan] Press Release

Stand Up To Cancer Awards Moffitt $2.67 Million to Study New Lung Cancer Immunotherapy

Moffitt Cancer Center announced it was awarded a $2.67 million dollar grant from Stand Up To Cancer to study a possible new immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer. [Moffitt Cancer Center] Press Release

Spyryx Biosciences Announces First Patient Enrolled in Phase II Clinical Trial of SPX-101 for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis

Spyryx Biosciences, Inc. announced the first patient was dosed in the HOPE-1 study, a multinational Phase II clinical trial for its lead compound, SPX-101 in cystic fibrosis. [Spyryx Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Opdivo Alone or Combined with Yervoy Shows Encouraging Response and Survival Rates in Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with High Tumor Mutation Burden, in Exploratory Analysis from Phase I/II Study CheckMate -032

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced data evaluating Opdivo and Opdivo plus Yervoy in previously treated small cell lung cancer patients whose tumors were evaluable for tumor mutation burden, from the Phase I/II CheckMate -032 trial. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

US FDA Accepts Supplemental Biologics License Application for Imfinzi in Locally Advanced Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

AstraZeneca and MedImmune announced that the FDA has accepted a supplemental Biologics License Application for Imfinzi for the treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has not progressed following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy. [AstraZeneca] Press Release

Rand Paul Takes a Poke at U.S. Peer Review Panels

Senate Republicans have launched a new attack on peer review by proposing changes to how the U.S. government funds basic research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Efforts to Save Leading Hungarian University Hit Hurdle

The threatened Central European University in Budapest has been dealt a blow in its efforts to avert possible closure in Hungary. The country’s parliament voted to postpone, for a year, a decision that would allow the university to keep operating there. [Nature News] Editorial

New Definitions of Scientific Units Are on the Horizon

Revamped definitions of scientific units are on their way. In the biggest overhaul of the international system of units since its inception in 1960, a committee is set to redefine four basic units — the ampere, the kilogram, the kelvin and the mole — using relationships to fundamental constants, rather than abstract or arbitrary definitions. [Nature News] Editorial

Top Chinese University to Consider Social-Media Posts in Researcher Evaluations

One of China’s most prestigious universities plans to give some articles in newspapers and posts on major social-media outlets the same weight as peer-reviewed publications when it evaluates researchers. [Nature News] Editorial

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San Diego, California, United States

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