Intestinal Cell News Volume 3.35 | Sep 15 2017

TOP STORY

Use of CRISPR-Modified Human Stem Cell Organoids to Study the Origin of Mutational Signatures in Cancer

Scientists used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to delete key DNA repair genes in human colon organoids, followed by delayed sub-cloning and whole-genome sequencing. They found that mutation accumulation in organoids deficient in the mismatch repair gene MLH1 is driven by replication errors and accurately models the mutation profiles observed in mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancers. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

INTESTINAL CANCERS & DISEASES

Inhibition of Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway and Histone Acetyltransferase Activity by Rimonabant: A Therapeutic Target for Colon Cancer

Researchers evaluated the effect of rimonabant, a cannabinoid receptor 1 inverse agonist, on the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway in HCT116 and SW48 cell lines carrying the genetic profile of metastatic colorectal cancer poorly responsive to chemotherapies. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Rhus coriaria Increases Protein Ubiquitination, Proteasomal Degradation and Triggers Non-Canonical Beclin-1-Independent Autophagy and Apoptotic Cell Death in Colon Cancer Cells

The authors investigated the anticancer effect of R. coriaria extract (RCE) on HT-29 and Caco-2 human colorectal cancer cells. They found that RCE significantly inhibited the viability and colony growth of colon cancer cells. RCE induced Beclin-1-independent autophagy and subsequent caspase-7-dependent apoptosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Ginkgetin Induces G2-Phase Arrest in HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells through the Modulation of b-Myb and MiRNA34a Expression

Ginkgetin-treated HCT116 CRC cells exhibited significant dose-dependent growth inhibition with a GI50 value of 4.0 µM for 48 hour treatment, together with apoptosis, via G2-phase cell cycle arrest. When HCT116 cells were treated with 10 µM ginkgetin for 48 hours, the percentage of cells in G2/M phase increased by 2.2-fold versus the untreated control. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Lichen-Derived Caperatic Acid and Physodic Acid Inhibit Wnt Signaling in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Investigators evaluated of the effects of lichen-derived depsides and depsidones and a poly-carboxylic fatty acid—caperatic acid on Wnt signaling in HCT116 and DLD-1 colorectal cancer cell lines. HCT116 cells were more sensitive to the modulatory effects of the compounds. [Mol Cell Biochem] Full Article

INTESTINAL STEM CELL & ORGANOID RESEARCH

Ret Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Sustains Proliferation and Tissue Maturation in Intestinal Epithelia

The authors report a new and physiologically significant site of Ret expression in the intestine: the intestinal epithelium. Experiments in Drosophila indicated that Ret is expressed both by enteric neurons and adult intestinal epithelial progenitors, which require Ret to sustain their proliferation. [EMBO J] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Live Cell Imaging of Mouse Intestinal Organoids Reveals Heterogeneity in Their Oxygenation

Scientists report the use of live cell microscopy of oxygen via the phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy method to address the oxygenation and variability of aerobic metabolism of individual organoids in the culture. Using the cell-penetrating phosphorescent O₂-sensitive probe, they found inhomogeneous O₂ distribution in live organoids, with areas of relatively high oxygenation and trans-epithelial O₂ microgradients. [Biomaterials] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Transcription Factor CUX1 Is Required for Intestinal Epithelial Wound Healing and Targets the VAV2-RAC1 Signaling Complex

Investigators evaluated CUX1 biological and functional roles during intestinal epithelial cell wound healing. RNAi knockdown of CUX1 in intestinal epithelial cells revealed a crucial role for this regulator in migratory response following wounding assays. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Effects of Residual Levels of Tetracycline on the Barrier Functions of Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Researchers investigated the outcome of tetracycline treatment on intestinal epithelial cells integrity. Intestinal epithelial cells were treated at concentrations of 0.015, 0.15, 1.5, 15 and 150 μg/ml for 48 hours in an in vitro cell culture model. [Food Chem Toxicol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Novel Insights into Microbiome in Colitis and Colorectal Cancer

The authors summarize the key advances recently achieved toward a better understanding of the role of microbiota in colitis and colorectal cancer development. [Curr Opin Gastroenterol] Abstract

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

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Reports Updated Data from Ongoing Phase I Clinical Study of DCC-2618

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals announced the presentation of updated data from its ongoing Phase I clinical trial of DCC-2618, the company’s pan-KIT and PDGFRα inhibitor, in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors. [Press release from Deciphera Pharmaceuticals discussing research presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress, Madrid] Press Release

Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals Receives $9.5 Million in Additional Funding from Sucampo following Phase III Trial Progress

Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced it has received a total of $9.5 million from its North America commercialization partner Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. [Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

CPRIT Awards More than $9 Million in Cancer Research Grants to Texas A&M

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has awarded eight research grants to Texas A&M University totaling more than $9 million. The grants are among 60 new awards totaling more than $102 million that CPRIT recently announced in Austin. [Texas A&M University] Press Release

Foundation Awards $3 Million for Innovative IBD Research

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation announced that it has awarded $3 million for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research through its Innovator Awards program. Grants will support an international pool of early-career and seasoned researchers to study untested ideas that could lead to breakthrough discoveries about IBD. [The Kenneth Rainin Foundation] Press Release

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, ‘Grant for Oncology Innovation’ Awards Recognize Recipients for Pushing Boundaries in Oncology Research

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany announced recipients of the fourth annual Grant for Oncology Innovation awards. The three winners of this prestigious program were awarded €1 million in total to progress their research. [Merck KGaA] Press Release

FDA Approves Amgen and Allergan’s MVASI^™ (Bevacizumab-Awwb) for the Treatment of Five Types of Cancer

Amgen and Allergan plc. announced that the FDA has approved MVASI^™ for all eligible indications of the reference product, Avastin^®. MVASI is the first anti-cancer biosimilar, as well as the first bevacizumab biosimilar, approved by the FDA. [Amgen Inc.] Press Release

After Uproar, U.K. Parliament’s Science Committee Now Has a Female Member

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee tweeted that it was “pleased to announced our membership has been confirmed.” Parliamentary committees had been dissolved after the recent U.K. election, and now the panel was rolling out its new contingent of lawmakers. The only problem: All eight of the mostly smiling faces belonged to men. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

U.S. House Approves 2018 Spending Bills, but Process Far from Finished

The U.S. House of Representatives took a major step toward setting federal science budgets for the 2018 fiscal year. But Congress is still far from the finish line, and final spending levels aren’t likely to be finalized until late this year at the earliest. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Precision Medicine in Cancer
May 6-10, 2018
Stockholm, Sweden

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

NEW Research Technologist – Intestinal Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Researcher/Faculty Member – Cancer Biology (University of Cincinnati)

Postdoctoral Opportunities – Biology of Colorectal Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Project Research Scientist – Cancer Genetics (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Gastric Stem Cells (Harvard University)

PhD Studentship – Gastrointestinal Physiology/Epithelial Biology (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)

Research Assistant – Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics and Biomarkers (Baylor Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Systems and Precision Cancer (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Intestinal Fibroblast Subsets (University of Oxford)

Research Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics and Biomarkers (Baylor Research Institute)

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 Intestinal Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.