Targeting COX-2 potently inhibits proliferation of cancer cells but not in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme which promotes tumorigenesis in many types of cancers. Genetic knockout of COX-2 significantly suppresses the tumorigenesis of skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, COX-2 inhibitor treatment only showed mild to moderate inhibition on SCC in previous reports.

Spatial association of SEMA3C with nerve endings/terminal Schwann cells in hair follicle isthmus region.

Nerve endings and terminal Schwann cells (TSCs) specifically and densely surround hair follicle at isthmus area, forming a neuromuscular-junction-like structure called lanceolate complex. The interplay between neuronal components and epidermis in this specialized structure enables hair to properly sense complex stimuli from environments. However, how nerves precisely attach to and innervate this specific region during development remains to be elucidated.

A High-Throughput, Multi-Cell Phenotype Assay for the Identification of Novel Inhibitors of Chemotaxis/Migration.

Chemotaxis and cell migration are fundamental, universal eukaryotic processes essential for biological functions such as embryogenesis, immunity, cell renewal, and wound healing, as well as for pathogenesis of many diseases including cancer metastasis and chronic inflammation. To identify novel chemotaxis inhibitors as probes for mechanistic studies and leads for development of new therapeutics, we developed a unique, unbiased phenotypic chemotaxis-dependent Dictyostelium aggregation assay for high-throughput screening using rapid, laser-scanning cytometry. Under defined conditions, individual Dictyostelium secrete chemoattractants, migrate, and aggregate.