Pulmonary Cell News Volume 7.00 | Jan 4 2018

TOP STORY

Differential Regulation of the Transcriptomic and Secretomic Landscape of Sensor and Effector Functions of Human Airway Epithelial Cells

The authors compared the gene expression and protein secretion profiles in response to specific stimulation of all expressed TLRs and in further comparison to TNFR1 and IFNGR in primary human airway epithelial cells. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

In Vitro Induction and In Vivo Engraftment of Lung Bud Tip Progenitor Cells Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers identified cues that maintained isolated human fetal lung epithelial bud tip progenitor cells in vitro and induced three-dimensional human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids with bud tip-like domains. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Amnion Epithelial Cell-Derived Exosomes Restrict Lung Injury and Enhance Endogenous Lung Repair

Human amnion epithelial cell-derived exosomes (hAEC Exo) were isolated and compared against human lung fibroblasts exosomes. hAEC Exo were assessed as a potential therapy for lung fibrosis. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Conditionally Reprogrammed Primary Airway Epithelial Cells Maintain Morphology, Lineage and Disease Specific Functional Characteristics

Investigators showed that conditionally reprogrammed airway epithelial cells can be established from both healthy and diseased phenotypes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Characterization of Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelial Cell Cultures at the Air-Liquid Interface Obtained by Non-Invasive Nasal Cytology Brush Sampling

Pediatric CF nasal cultures grown at the air-liquid interface showed a differentiation into a pseudostratified epithelium with a mucociliary phenotype. [Respir Res] Full Article

Alveolar Injury and Regeneration following Deletion of ABCA3

The authors conditionally deleted the Abca3 gene in AT2 cells in the mature mouse lung. Loss of ABCA3 caused alveolar cell injury and respiratory failure. ABCA3-related lung dysfunction was associated with surfactant deficiency, inflammation, and alveolar-capillary leak. [JCI Insight] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

Rsf-1 Influences the Sensitivity of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer to Paclitaxel by Regulating NF-κB Pathway and Its Downstream Proteins

Investigators assessed the function of remodeling and spacing factor 1 (Rsf-1) in the modulation of the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer to paclitaxel via the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Inhibition of Autophagy Potentiates the Anti-Metastasis Effect of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate through JAK2/STAT3 Pathway in Lung Cancer Cells

Researchers found that phenethyl isothiocyanate suppressed migration and invasion of lung cancer cells by regulating MMP2. It also induced autophagy, evidenced by the formation of acidic vesicular organelles, the punctate pattern of LC3, the accumulation of LC3-II, and the expression of Beclin-1. [Mol Carcinog] Abstract

Econazole Nitrate Inhibits PI3K Activity and Promotes Apoptosis in Lung Cancer Cells

Scientists applied free and open-source protein-ligand docking software, screened 3167 FDA-approved small molecules, and identified putative PI3Kα inhibitors. Among them, econazole nitrate, an antifungal agent, exhibited the highest activity in decreasing cell viability in pathological types of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, including H661 (large cell lung cancer) and A549 (adenocarcinoma). [Sci Rep] Full Article

Caspase Cleavage of Mcl-1 Impairs Its Anti-Apoptotic Activity and Proteasomal Degradation in Non-Small Lung Cancer Cells

Investigators showed that myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1), a pro-survival member of the Bcl-2 family, was cleaved by caspase-3 in non-small cell lung cancer cells undergoing chemotherapeutic agent-triggered apoptosis. [Apoptosis] Abstract

Effect of MicroRNA-145 on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer A549 Cells by Regulating mTOR Signaling Pathway

The authors found that miR-145 expression was low in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and influenced NSCLC cells by negatively regulating mTOR signaling pathway. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Engineered Cell and Tissue Models of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Scientists contrast different in vitro models based on increasing dimensionality (2D, 2.5D and 3D), with added focus on contemporary 3D pulmonary models of fibrosis. [Adv Drug Deliv Rev] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Stem Cells in Lung Repair and Regeneration: Current Applications and Future Promise

The authors discuss the conceptual framework of lung stem/progenitor cell biology, and describe lung diseases, in which stem cell manipulations may be physiologically significant. In addition, they highlight the challenges of lung stem cell-based therapy. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

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

GeneCentric Therapeutics Announces Research Collaboration on Drug Response Biomarkers for Lung Cancer

GeneCentric Therapeutics, Inc. announced a research collaboration to evaluate the potential of GeneCentric’s Cancer Subtype Platform to identify responders to G1 Therapeutics’ oral CDK4/6 inhibitor G1T38 for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. [GeneCentric Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Lycera Announces Initiation of Phase Ib Study of Novel Immuno-Oncology Candidate LYC-55716 in Combination with Pembrolizumab

Lycera Corp. announced the initiation of a Phase Ib clinical trial of the company’s novel immuno-oncology therapeutic candidate, LYC-55716, in combination with pembrolizumab. [Lycera Corp.] Press Release

Synspira Announces $3 Million Development Award from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Synspira announced that it has received up to a $3 million award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to advance clinical development of its lead candidate, SNSP113, for use in pulmonary complications of CF. [Synspira] Press Release

Germany vs Elsevier: Universities Win Temporary Journal Access after Refusing to Pay Fees

The Dutch publishing giant Elsevier has granted uninterrupted access to its paywalled journals for researchers at around 200 German universities and research institutes that had refused to renew their individual subscriptions at the end of 2017. [Nature News] Editorial

New NCI Director Expects Big Data to Revolutionize Cancer Research, Care

Cancer researchers were nervous about who President Donald Trump would choose to replace Harold Varmus as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). But their fears of an unconventional candidate proved unfounded when he tapped Norman “Ned” Sharpless. Sharpless, 51, who was then director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Nobel Laureate Will Step Down from Leading Embattled Salk Institute

Elizabeth Blackburn, the Nobel Prize–winning molecular biologist who took over just two years ago as president of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California, announced her intent to retire this summer. The unexpected news comes as Salk faces gender discrimination lawsuits from three veteran female scientists and Blackburn herself has been challenged for not moving quickly enough to change what one plaintiff’s suit called an “old boys club” at the renowned research institute. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Chile Election Reignites Tussle over Science Policy

Chile’s new President-elect Sebastián Piñera is poised to reshape science policy in the country. His plans to forge closer ties among science, education and industry have sparked enthusiasm from scientists who hope the plan will bolster support for their work — but also concern about possible changes in research priorities. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Fibroblast Growth Factors in Development and Disease
March 25-30, 2018
Ventura, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung Regeneration after Injury (University of Michigan)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung Cancer (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Scientific Officer – Lung Cancer (CRUK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell Signaling and Cell Differentiation (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cancer Research (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Airway Stem Cell Biology (Cornell University)

PhD Studentship – Heterogeneity in Small Cell Lung Cancer (CRUK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate – Inflammation and Fibrosis (Rhode Island Hospital)

Postdoctoral Position – Lung Cancer (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Disease Mechanism (University of California, San Diego)

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