Pulmonary Cell News Volume 7.25 | Jun 28 2018

TOP STORY

MEG3-4 Is a miRNA Decoy that Regulates IL-1β Abundance to Initiate and then Limit Inflammation to Prevent Sepsis during Lung Infection

Investigators found that MEG3, transcript 4 (MEG3-4) bound to the microRNA miR-138 in a competitive manner with mRNA encoding the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β), thereby increasing IL-1β abundance and intensifying inflammatory responses to bacterial infection in alveolar macrophages and lung epithelial cells in culture and in lung tissue in mice. [Sci Signal] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Betamethasone Prevents Human Rhinovirus- and Cigarette Smoke- Induced Loss of Respiratory Epithelial Barrier Function

Scientists investigated barrier-damaging factors and protective factors by real-time measurement of respiratory cell barrier integrity. Barrier integrity to cigarette smoke extract, house dust mite extract, interferon-γ or human rhinovirus infection alone or in combination was assessed. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Comparison of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Responses in Paired Human Primary Airway Epithelial Cells and Alveolar Macrophages

Scientists compared the pro- and anti-inflammatory responses of paired human primary airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages to toll-like receptor (TLR)3 and TLR4 agonists. [Respir Res] Full Article

The Impact of Acute Exposure to Cigarette Smoke on Airway Gene Expression

Bronchial airway epithelial cell brushings were collected from 63 individuals without recent cigarette smoke exposure, before and 24-hours after smoking three cigarettes. RNA from these samples was profiled on Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST microarrays. [Physiol Genomics] Abstract

Modeling Cryptosporidium Infection in Human Small Intestinal and Lung Organoids

The authors showed that Cryptosporidium can infect epithelial organoids derived from human small intestine and lung. The parasite propagates within the organoids and completes its complex life cycle. [Nat Microbiol] Abstract | Press Release

Long-Term Culture of Distal Airway Epithelial Cells Allows Differentiation towards Alveolar Epithelial Cells Suited for Influenza Virus Studies

Investigators used human distal airway epithelial cells (DAECs) to generate alveolar epithelial cells. Long-term, robust growth of human DAECs was achieved using co-culture with feeder cells and supplementation with epidermal growth factor, Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor Y27632, and the Notch pathway inhibitor dibenzazepine. [EBioMedicine] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

LncRNA LCPAT1 Mediates Smoking/Particulate Matter 2.5-Induced Cell Autophagy and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Cancer Cells via RCC2

Cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and autophagy were elevated when lung cancer cells were treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and PM2.5 in combination. A lncRNA, named lung cancer progression-association transcript 1 (LCPAT1), was up-regulated after the treatment of CSE and PM2.5, and knocking down the lncRNA impaired the effect of CSE and PM2.5 on lung cancer cells. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Effect of the Actin- and Calcium-Regulating Activities of ITPKB on the Metastatic Potential of Lung Cancer Cells

Researchers found that inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase-B (ITPKB) bundled F-actin in cell-free systems. However, the stable expression of ITPKB in H1299 lung cancer cells, exhibiting very low endogenous ITPKB expression, had no significant effect on the actin structure. [Biochem J] Abstract

Ethyl Acetate Extract of Scindapsus cf. hederaceus Exerts the Inhibitory Bioactivity on Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells through Modulating ER Stress

Scientists identified an ethyl acetate extract from Scindapsus cf. hederaceus, which markedly altered the protein expression of unfolded protein response-related genes in human non-small cell lung cancer cells. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

MicroRNA-198 Inhibition of HGF/c-MET Signaling Pathway Overcomes Resistance to Radiotherapy and Induces Apoptosis in Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The authors altered the endogenous miR-198 using mimics or inhibitors to examine the effects of miR-198 on 4 Gy-irradiated A549 and SPCA-1 cells in vitro. Upregulating miR-198 was shown to inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induce apoptosis. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

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Extracellular pH and Lung Infections in Cystic Fibrosis

The authors discuss the basis that sustain the role of CFTR in modulating the extracellular pH, and the recent results sustaining the different points of view. Finding the mechanisms of CFTR signaling that determine the susceptibility to infections is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of CF and related lung diseases. [Eur J Cell Biol] Abstract

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

Genentech’s TECENTRIQ in Combination with Chemotherapy Helped People with Previously-Untreated Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Live Significantly Longer Compared to Chemotherapy

Genentech announced that the Phase III IMpower133 study met its co-primary endpoints of overall survival and progression-free survival at its first interim analysis. [Genentech, Inc.] Press Release

Selective AXL Inhibitor Bemcentinib Meets Pre-Specified Efficacy Endpoint in Stage 1 of NSCLC Phase II Combination Trial with KEYTRUDA^®

BerGenBio ASA announced that on a top-line, preliminary basis, the first efficacy endpoint has been met in its Phase II clinical trial evaluating bemcentinib, a first-in-class oral selective AXL inhibitor, in combination with the Merck & Co., Inc., anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA^® as a potential new treatment regimen for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). [BerGenBio ASA] Press Release

Health Canada Approves PrSYMDEKO™ (Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor and Ivacaftor) to Treat the Underlying Cause of Cystic Fibrosis in People Ages 12 and Older with Certain Mutations in the CFTR Gene

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that Health Canada approved PrSYMDEKO™ for treating the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis in people ages 12 and older who have two copies of the F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, or who have one copy of the F508del mutation and one of several mutations in the CFTR gene. [Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release

Galectin Therapeutics Receives Patent for GR-MD-02 Patent for Method and Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Galectin Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the company has received notice of issuance of U.S. Patent Number 9,968,631 titled “Method and Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis”. [Galectin Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Accepts Application for Opdivo plus Low-Dose Yervoy for Treatment of First-Line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Patients with Tumor Mutational Burden ≥10 mut/Mb

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that the FDA has accepted its supplemental Biologics License Application for Opdivo plus low-dose Yervoy for the treatment of first-line advanced non-small cell lung cancer in patients with tumor mutational burden ≥10 mutations per megabase (mut/Mb). [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

Science Candidates: High-Tech Smarts Aren’t Enough for Defeated Obama Aide

For many first-time congressional candidates with science and technology backgrounds, fundraising can be a major obstacle. Not to Brian Forde, who was once a senior technology adviser to former-President Barack Obama. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Macchiarini Guilty of Misconduct, but Whistleblowers Share Blame, New Karolinska Institute Verdict Finds

The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm has finally, officially, found disgraced surgeon Paolo Macchiarini guilty of scientific misconduct. However, the verdict is a bitter pill for the four people who raised the alarm about Macchiarini’s fraud. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Top US Court Upholds Trump Travel Ban: Student Visas Already in Decline

he travel restrictions now vary by country, and include some exemptions for students. But data from the Department of Justice reveal that the government issued just 289 visas to students from Iran, Libya, Yemen and Somalia in the first three months of this year. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Lorne Cancer Conference 2019
February 14-16, 2019
Lorne, Australia

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NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy (Baylor College of Medicine)

Research Technologist – Pulmonary (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Lung Cancer (University of Oxford)

Principal Investigators – Cancer (University of Alabama Birmingham)

Chief – Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch (National Institutes of Health – National Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology/Molecular Biology (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular or Lung Biology (Yale University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Lung Stem Cells and Regeneration (MedImmune)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Virology and Respiratory Biology (MedImmune)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Genetic Epidemiology (University of Kentucky)

Postdoctoral Scholarship – Cancer Metabolism (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (NYU Langone Health)

PhD Student – Novel Concepts for Therapy of Allergy (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

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