Pulmonary Cell News Volume 7.31 | Aug 9 2018

TOP STORY

Reducing NOVA1 Gene Helps Prevent Tumor Growth in Most Common Type of Lung Cancer

Researchers have identified a gene that when inhibited or reduced, in turn, reduced or prevented human non-small cell lung cancer tumors from growing. [Press release from the University of Michigan discussing online prepublication in Nature Communications] Press Release | Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

iPSC-Derived Macrophages Effectively Treat Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis in Csf2rb-Deficient Mice

Scientists evaluated the airway residence, plasticity, and therapeutic efficacy of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived macrophages in a murine model of hereditary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Isolation and Characterisation of Alveolar Type II Pneumocytes from Adult Bovine Lung

The authors present a simple and cost-effective method that may be utilized in the generation of bovine primary alveolar type II cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Establishment and Characterization of a Telomerase‐Immortalized Porcine Bronchial Epithelial Cell Line

Researchers isolated and cultured primary porcine bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) and established immortalized PBECs by transfecting primary PBECs with the pEGFP‐hTERT recombinant plasmid containing human telomerase reverse transcriptase. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Loss of Barrier Integrity in Alveolar Epithelial Cells Downregulates ENaC Expression and Activity via Ca²⁺ and TRPV4 Activation

Investigators found that mechanical stress induced by wounding or TRPV4-mediated loss of tight junction increases [Ca²⁺]_i and elicits a Ca²⁺ wave that affects epithelial Na channel (ENaC) expression and function away from the site of injury. [Pflugers Arch] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

Amplification of Wild Type KRAS Imparts Resistance to Crizotinib in MET Exon 14 Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Scientists characterized acquired amplification of wild type KRAS as a molecular mechanism behind crizotinib resistance in three cases of METex14 mutant non-small cell lung cancer and proposed a combination therapy to target it. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Acquired SETD2 Mutation and Impaired CREB1 Activation Confer Cisplatin Resistance in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Investigators showed that suppression of SET domain containing 2 (SETD2) or cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) and ectopic expression of mutant SETD2 conferred cisplatin resistance through inhibition of H3K36me3 and ERK activation in non-small cell lung cancer cells. [Oncogene] Abstract

Disruption of Chromosomal Architecture of Cox2 Locus Sensitizes Lung Cancer Cells to Radiotherapy

The authors investigated the role of cox2 in radio-sensitivity of lung cancer. Their results showed that the combination treatment of radiation with aspirin, an anti-inflammatory drug, induced a synergistic reduction of cell survival in A549 and H1299 lung cancer cells. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Full Article

BMP4 Upregulation Is Associated with Acquired Drug Resistance and Fatty Acid Metabolism in EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Scientists identified the potential roles of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and miRNAs involved in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance by analyzing datasets from a pair of parental cells and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with acquired EGFR TKI-resistance. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article

Increased Glutamine Anabolism Sensitizes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer to Gefitinib Treatment

To better understand the resistance mechanism of non-small cell lung cancers to gefitinib, the metabolic profiles of gefitinib-resistant A549 cells and gefitinib-sensitive PC-9 cells were analyzed with a metabolomics analytical platform. A549 and PC-9 cells exhibited significant differences in the levels of glutamine-related metabolites. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

Lysyl Hydroxylases Are Transcription Targets for GATA3 Driving Lung Cancer Cell Metastasis

Researchers report that the transcription factor GATA3 and its co-factor FOG2 commonly promoted the expression of the lysyl hydroxylase (LH) family members, including LH2 and LH3, which in turn drove lung adenocarcinoma cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Understanding Alveolarization to Induce Lung Regeneration

The re-induction of alveolarization in diseased lungs is a new and exciting concept in a regenerative medicine approach to manage pulmonary diseases that are characterized by an absence of alveoli. [Respir Res] Full Article

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Treating Cystic Fibrosis: State of the Science

The authors review properties of different epithelial cells in the airway, and the in vitro genetic roadmap which induced pluripotent stem cells follow as they are step‐wise differentiated into either basal stem cells, for the proximal airway, or into type II alveolar cells for the distal airways. [Pediatr Pulmonol] Abstract

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

Boehringer Ingelheim, the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Imperial Innovations and Oxford BioMedica Announce New Partnership to Develop First-In-Class Gene Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis

Boehringer Ingelheim, the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium—consisting of Imperial College London and the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh—Imperial Innovations, and Oxford BioMedica announced a global collaboration to develop a first-in-class, long-term therapy for patients with CF. [Boehringer Ingelheim] Press Release

FDA Approves ORKAMBI^® (Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor) as First Medicine to Treat the Underlying Cause of Cystic Fibrosis for Children Ages 2-5 Years with Most Common Form of the Disease

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced the FDA has approved ORKAMBI^® to include use in children ages 2 through 5 years with cystic fibrosis who have two copies of the F508del-CFTR mutation, making it the first medicine approved to treat the underlying cause of CF in this population. [Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release

Genprex Updates Agreement with University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to Resume Patient Enrollment in Phase I/II Study Evaluating Oncoprex/Erlotinib Combination Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Genprex, Inc. announced that it has amended its agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to resume patient enrollment in its Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the combination of the company’s investigational drug Oncoprex^™ and erlotinib for the treatment of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. [Genprex] Press Release

Japanese Medical University Admits to Discriminating against Female Applicants

A prominent Japanese medical university said that school administrators have deliberately manipulated entrance exam scores to limit the number of women admitted. The confession helps explain the lopsided gender ratio of graduates from Tokyo Medical University and strengthens suspicions that similar practices have prevailed at other Japanese medical schools. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Top US Biomedical Institute Settles Gender-Discrimination Lawsuits

The Salk Institute has reached a deal with two of three female scientists who alleged unequal treatment. Cancer researchers Katherine Jones and Victoria Lundblad have agreed to drop all claims against the institute in La Jolla, California, according to a joint statement released. [Nature News] Editorial

Embattled French Health-Agency Chief Withdraws Leadership Bid

The chief of France’s national biomedical-research agency INSERM has said that he will not run for a second term, a decision that ends months of uncertainty about his future at the organization. [Nature News] Editorial

India Cracks Down on Plagiarism at Universities

India has for the first time introduced regulations to detect and punish acts of plagiarism at universities. Punishments for researchers or students caught breaking the rules range from requiring that a manuscript be withdrawn to sacking or expulsion, depending on the extent of the plagiarism. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The 5^th Canadian Cancer Research Conference
November 3-5, 2019
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Acute Lung Injury (University of Kentucky)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Respiratory Epithelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cystic Fibrosis (Imperial College London)

Cancer Research Scholar – Lung Cancer (University of California)

Postdoctoral Fellow – BCL-2 & Pathogenesis & Targeted Therapy of Lung Cancer (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung and Vascular Diseases (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cellular Therapeutics in Chronic Lung Disease (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

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

Principal Investigators – Cancer (University of Alabama Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (NYU Langone Health)

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