Pulmonary Cell News Volume 7.14 | Apr 12 2018

TOP STORY

Myoepithelial Cells of Submucosal Glands Can Function as Reserve Stem Cells to Regenerate Airways after Injury

Using single-cell RNA sequencing and lineage tracing, scientists uncovered that myoepithelial cells of the submucosal glands proliferate and migrate to repopulate the airway surface epithelium in multiple injury models. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Profiling of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived SCGB3A2⁺ Airway Epithelium

Researchers engineered mouse and human pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines carrying airway secretory lineage reporters that facilitate the tracking, purification, and profiling of this lung subtype. Through bulk and single-cell-based global transcriptomic profiling, they found PSC-derived airway secretory cells are susceptible to phenotypic plasticity exemplified by the tendency to co-express both a proximal airway secretory program as well as an alveolar type 2 cell program, which can be minimized by inhibiting endogenous Wnt signaling. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Successful Establishment of Primary Type 2 Alveolar Epithelium with 3D Organotypic Co-Culture

Scientists have addressed this knowledge gap by developing a 3-dimensional organotypic co-culture using primary human fetal alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells and pulmonary fibroblasts. Grown on top of matrix-embedded fibroblasts, the primary human AT2 cells establish a monolayer and have direct contact with the underlying pulmonary fibroblasts. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract

Effects of Fluticasone Propionate and Budesonide on the Expression of Immune Defense Genes in Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Human bronchial epithelial 16HBE cells and air-liquid interface-cultured primary bronchial epithelial cells were pre-treated with clinically equipotent concentrations of budesonide or fluticasone propionate, and the expression of immune defense genes was studied at baseline and after exposure to rhinovirus. [Pulm Pharmacol Ther] Abstract

TGF Beta Inhibits Expression of SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, but not SP-D in Human Alveolar Type II Cells

Investigators cultured alveolar type II cells under air/liquid interface conditions to maintain their state of differentiation with or without TGF beta. TGF beta markedly decreased expression of SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, fatty acid synthase, and the phospholipid transporter ABCA3. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Resistin Upregulates MUC5AC/B Mucin Gene Expression in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Researchers showed that resistin affected mucin expression in human airway epithelial cells via the mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells pathway. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

The Mitochondrial Citrate Carrier, SLC25A1, Drives Stemness and Therapy Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Investigators showed that lung cancer stem cells rely upon oxidative phosphorylation for energy production and survival through the activity of the mitochondrial citrate transporter, SLC25A1. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Avicequinone B Sensitizes Anoikis in Human Lung Cancer Cells

Researchers demonstrated the potential of avicequinone B, a natural furanonaphthoquinone found in mangrove tree to sensitize anoikis in human lung cancer cells. [J Biomed Sci] Full Article

Trps1 Is Associated with the Multidrug Resistance of Lung Cancer Cell by Regulating MGMT Gene Expression

The authors demonstrated that Trps1 and MGMT expression both increased in drug-resistant lung cancer cell line. Silencing of Trps1 resulted in downregulation of MGMT expression and decrease in the multidrug sensitivity of H446/CDDP cells, while Trps1 overexpression exhibited the opposite effects in H446 cells. [Cancer Med] Full Article

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interactions and Emerging Therapeutic Targets

The authors provide an overview of the interactions of the pathogenic mechanisms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with a focus on epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk and the extracellular matrix as a therapeutic target for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. [Matrix Biol] Abstract

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

KEYTRUDA^® (Pembrolizumab) Monotherapy Met Primary Endpoint in Phase III KEYNOTE-042 Study, Significantly Improving OS as First-Line Therapy in Locally Advanced or Metastatic NSCLC Patients Expressing PD-L1 in at Least 1 Percent of Tumor Cells

Merck announced that the pivotal Phase III KEYNOTE-042 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, as monotherapy for the first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) met its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS). [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Announces Update of MD Anderson’s Phase II Data Studying Poziotinib in EGFR Exon 20 Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that updated poziotinib Phase II data in MD Anderson’s EGFR Exon 20 Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer study are available, based on longer follow-up. [Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

BerGenBio Completes Recruitment into First Stage of Phase II NSCLC Trial with Selective AXL Inhibitor Bemcentinib Combined with KEYTRUDA^®

BerGenBio ASA announced that it has completed enrolment of the planned 22 patients into the first stage of its Phase II clinical trial evaluating bemcentinib, its investigational oral selective AXL inhibitor, in combination with the Merck & Co. anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA^® as a potential new treatment regimen for advanced lung cancer. [BerGenBio ASA] Press Release

The March for Science Is Back — and Here’s What to Expect

Nature takes a look at why people are marching, how the movement has changed over time and what its future could bring. [Nature News] Editorial

Spanish Research Gets a Nice Budget Boost—but Scientists Say It Will Be of Little Help

The Spanish government has announced plans to raise the country’s overall public R&D budget by 8.3% in 2018, from €6.5 billion to €7 billion—the biggest hike since the economic crisis hit Spain in 2008. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Web of Science Owner Buys Tool that Offers One-Click Access to Journal Articles

The owner of the large scholarly search engine Web of Science — Clarivate Analytics — has bought a start-up company whose tool gives researchers one-click, legal access to journal articles even when off campus. [Nature News] Editorial

India Creates Unique Tiered System to Punish Plagiarism

The Indian government has adopted its first regulations on academic plagiarism—rules that some researchers say are too lenient and others fear go too far and will be difficult to implement. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Got Data? Survey of 2017 March for Science Doesn’t Make the Grade

A group of researchers has released the first results of a large survey of those who participated in and supported last year’s March for Science. Some social scientists say the analysis is fundamentally flawed and reflects poorly on an organization that champions scientific rigor. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Science’s Vast Gender Pay Gap Revealed in UK Wage Data

Many UK science employers pay women much less than men, and some institutions are far less equal than others, according to an analysis conducted by Nature of statistics released last week. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 19^th World Conference on Lung Cancer
September 23-25, 2018
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Long Noncoding RNA in Tumor Development and Cellular Differentiation (University of Gothenburg)

Research Technologist – Pulmonary (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Lung Cancer (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell and Molecular Biology (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Full Professorship and Director – Lung Biology (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)

Postdoctoral Traveling Fellowship – Lung Cancer (Cancer Research UK)

Doctoral Researcher Positions – Deciphering Therapeutic Targets in Lung Toxicology (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)

Postdoctoral Position – Immune Oncology (H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Autoimmune Diseases Affecting the Lung (University of California, San Francisco)

Assistant Professor – Pulmonary Physiology (University of California, Riverside)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Pulmonary Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.