Pulmonary Cell News Volume 8.14 | Apr 18 2019

TOP STORY

In Utero Gene Editing for Monogenic Lung Disease

Using a CRISPR fluorescent reporter system, investigators demonstrated that precisely timed in utero intra-amniotic delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing reagents during fetal development resulted in targeted and specific gene editing in fetal lungs. [Sci Transl Med] Full Article | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Phenotyping Ciliary Dynamics and Coordination in Response to CFTR-Modulators in Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Epithelial Cells

The authors showed how multiscale differential dynamic microscopy (multi-DDM) could be used to characterize collective ciliary beating in a non-biased automated manner. They used multi-DDM to assess the efficacy of different CFTR-modulating drugs in human airway epithelial cells derived from subjects with CF based on ciliary beat frequency and coordination. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Pathway Centrality in Protein Interaction Networks Identifies Putative Functional Mediating Pathways in Pulmonary Disease

The authors defined the concept of pathway centrality, a measure of communication between disease genes and differentially expressed genes. Using pathway centrality, they identified mediating pathways in three pulmonary diseases (asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and COPD). [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cystathionine γ-Lyase Deficiency Enhances Airway Reactivity and Viral-Induced Disease in Mice Exposed to Side-Stream Tobacco Smoke

Researchers used mice genetically deficient in the cystathionine γ-lyase enzyme, the major H2S-generating enzyme in the lung to determine the contribution of H₂S to airway disease in response to side-stream tobacco smoke (TS), and to TS/respiratory syncytial virus co-exposure. [Pediatr Res] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

Lung Cancer Deficient in the Tumor Suppressor GATA4 Is Sensitive to TGFBR1 Inhibition

Through the genome-wide screening of tumor-suppressive transcription factors, scientists demonstrated that GATA4 functioned as an essential tumor suppressor in lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Ectopic GATA4 expression resulted in lung cancer cell senescence. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Overcoming Acquired Resistance of Gefitinib in Lung Cancer Cells without T790M by AZD9291 or Twist1 Knockdown in Vitro and in Vivo

Gefitinib-resistant H1650or AZD9291-resistant H1975 was generated by exposing NSCLC cell line H1650 or H1975 to progressively increased concentrations of gefitinib or AZD9291 over 11 months. The cytotoxic effects of gefitinib or AZD9291 in vitro were evaluated via the half maximal inhibitory concentrations determined by the MTT assay. [Arch Toxicol] Abstract

S-Nitrosylation of the Peroxiredoxin-2 Promotes S-Nitrosoglutathione-Mediated Lung Cancer Cells Apoptosis via AMPK-SIRT1 Pathway

Investigators showed that, as an endogenous NO carrier, S-nitrosoglutathione induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells via nitrosylating Prdx2. The nitrosylation of Prdx2 at Cys51 and Cys172 sites disrupted the formation of Prdx2 dimer and repressed the Prdx2 antioxidant activity, causing the accumulation of endogenous H₂O₂. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Differential Regulation of Gene Expression in Lung Cancer Cells by Diacyglycerol-Lactones and a Phorbol Ester via Selective Activation of Protein Kinase C Isozymes

Scientists compared the ability of AJH-836 and a prototypical phorbol ester to induce changes in gene expression in a lung cancer model. Gene profiling analysis using RNA-Seq revealed that PMA caused major changes in gene expression, whereas AJH-836 only induced a small subset of genes, thus providing a strong indication for a major involvement of classical PKCs in their control of gene expression. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Downregulation of Lysyl Oxidase-Like 4 LOXL4 by miR-135a-5p Promotes Lung Cancer Progression in Vitro and in Vivo

The authors inhibited miR-135a-5p expression by transfecting LV-anti-miR-135a-5p into lung cancer cells. As displayed, miR-135a-5p was obviously reduced in A549 and H1299 cells. Knockdown of miR-135a-5p repressed lung cancer cell growth and cell proliferation. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cancer Stem Cell News & Human Immunology News.

Strategies to Improve Cancer Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Efficacy, Other Than Abscopal Effect: A Systematic Review

Despite that the impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors on malignancies treatment is unprecedented, a lack of response to these molecules is observed in several cases. Differently from melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, where the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors results in a high efficacy, the response rate in other tumors, such as gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, sarcomas, and part of genitourinary cancers remains low. [Cancers] Full Article

The Multifaceted Roles of FOXM1 in Pulmonary Disease

A growing number of studies have focused on the relationship between abnormal FOXM1 expression and pulmonary diseases, such as lung cancer, COPD, asthma, acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. These studies indicate that the FOXM1 regulatory network is a major predictor of poor outcomes, especially in lung cancer, and provide novel insight into various pulmonary diseases. [Cell Commun Signal] Full Article

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

FameWave Announces Clinical Collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb for the Planned Phase I/II Trial in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer to Evaluate Immuno-Oncology Candidate CM-24 in Combination with Nivolumab (Opdivo^®)

FameWave Ltd. announced the signing of a clinical collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb Company to evaluate the combination of CM-24, FameWave’s monoclonal antibody targeting the novel immune checkpoint carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1, with nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. [FameWave Ltd. (Global Newswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Harpoon Therapeutics Doses First Patient with a Mesothelin-Targeting T Cell Engager (HPN536) in Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial for Ovarian and Other Solid Tumor Cancers

Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the first patient has been dosed with HPN536 in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial initially focused on ovarian cancer. HPN536 targets mesothelin, which is expressed on malignant cells of ovarian and pancreatic carcinoma, mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer. [Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

iTeos Therapeutics Initiates Phase I/Ib Trial with Differentiated Adenosine A2A Antagonist in Patients with Advanced Cancer

iTeos Therapeutics SA announced the first cohort of patients has been dosed in its Phase I/Ib study with EOS100850, the company’s investigational A2Areceptor antagonist and lead program candidate. [iTeos Therapeutics Initiates] Press Release

Moleculin Announces Significant Discovery in Lung Cancer Models

Moleculin Biotech, Inc. announced that its ongoing sponsored research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has now demonstrated that Annamycin is able to significantly improve survival in an aggressive form of triple negative breast cancer metastasized to the lungs in animal models. [Moleculin Biotech, Inc.] Press Release

Bellerophon Announces Agreement with FDA on Regulatory Approval Pathway for INOpulse^® for Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Interstitial Lung Disease

Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has reached agreement with the FDA on the regulatory approval pathway for INOpulse^® in patients with Pulmonary Hypertension associated with Interstitial Lung Disease. [Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

US Food and Drug Administration Approves DUAKLIR^® PRESSAIR^® (Aclidinium/Formoterol) for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Circassia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the FDA has approved DUAKLIR^{® PRESSAIR® for the maintenance treatment of patients with COPD. DUAKLIR PRESSAIR is a fixed-dose LAMA/LABA combination of the long-acting muscarinic antagonist aclidinium and the long-acting beta agonist formoterol. [Circassia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release}

Using Real-World Data, the FDA Aims to Predict Randomized Trial Results Before They’re Done

The FDA is taking new steps to test the capabilities of real-world evidence, by attempting to predict the results of randomized, controlled trials before they are completed. It’s an awaited expansion of the agency’s demonstration project, currently being conducted with the data firm Aetion and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. [Questex LLC. (FierceBiotech)] Press Release

How US-China Political Tensions Are Affecting Science

In the latest twist, several US universities are expected this month to announce the actions they have taken against foreign scientists caught breaking rules concerning National Institutes of Health funding, according to comments made by agency director Francis Collins to the Senate Appropriations Committee. [Nature News] Editorial

Stanford Clears Three Faculty Members of ‘CRISPR Babies’ Involvement

Stanford University cleared three faculty members of any misconduct in their interactions with the Chinese scientist who created “CRISPR babies” last year. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW 8^th InterAmerican Oncology Conference
October 17-18, 2019
Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular & Lung Biology (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Regenerative Medicine for Lung Conditions (United Therapeutics)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Causes of Allergies and Asthma (Stanford University)

Early Stage Researcher – Lung Organoid Culture (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pulmonary (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Pulmonary/Lung Carcinogenesis Translational Research (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Lung Research (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (University of California, San Francisco)

Molecular Biologist (Entrinsic Health Solutions, Inc.)

Research Associate – Gene Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis (Imperial College London)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung Disease (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Principal Investigator Positions – Stem Cell Research (The GDL-MP Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Biomedicine)

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Lung Cancer (University of Cincinnati College of Medicine)

Associate Professor – Oncology (University of California, Davis)

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.