DIABETES The Peri-Islet Basement Membrane, a Barrier to Infiltrating Leukocytes in Type 1 Diabetes in Mouse and Human Investigators provided the first comprehensive analysis of the extracellular matrix composition of peri-islet capsules, composed of the peri-islet basement membrane (BM) and subjacent interstitial matrix (IM), in development of type 1 diabetes in NOD mice and in human type 1 diabetes. The data demonstrate global loss of peri-islet BM and IM components only at sites of leukocyte infiltration into the islet. [Diabetes] Abstract Insights Into the Molecular Mechanism for Type 2 Diabetes Susceptibility at the KCNQ1 Locus from Temporal Changes in Imprinting Status in Human Islets By use of quantitative PCR and pyrosequencing of human adult islet and fetal pancreas samples, researchers investigated the imprinting status of regional transcripts and aimed to determine whether type 2 diabetes risk alleles influence regional DNA methylation and gene expression. [Diabetes] Abstract Oestrogens Improve Human Pancreatic Islet Transplantation in a Mouse Model of Insulin Deficient Diabetes During pancreatic islet transplantation, the female hormone 17β-oestradiol synergistic actions contribute to enhancing human islet-graft survival, revascularization and functional mass. [Diabetologia] Abstract | Full Article Syntaxin-3 Regulates Newcomer Insulin Granule Exocytosis and Compound Fusion in Pancreatic Beta Cells Mouse pancreatic islets and INS-1 cells were treated with adenovirus carrying Syntaxin-3 (Syn-3) or small interfering RNA targeting Syn-3 in order to examine insulin secretion by radioimmunoassay. The localization and distribution of insulin granules were examined by confocal and electron microscopy. [Diabetologia] Abstract | Full Article ALDH1B1 Is a Potential Stem/Progenitor Marker for Multiple Pancreas Progenitor Pools In the adult pancreas researchers identified rare ALDH1B1+ cells that become abundant following pancreas injury in either the caerulein or streptozotocin paradigms. Blocking aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) catalytic activity in pancreas embryonic explants resulted in reduced size of the explants and accelerated differentiation suggesting for the first time that ALDH activity may be necessary in the developing pancreas for the maintenance and expansion of progenitor pools. [Dev Biol] Abstract PANCREATIC CANCER Common Genetic Variants in the CLDN2 and PRSS1–PRSS2 Loci Alter Risk for Alcohol-Related and Sporadic Pancreatitis Researchers reported two pancreatitis risk associations at genome-wide significance identified and replicated at PRSS1–PRSS2 and X-linked CLDN2 through a two-stage genome-wide study. The PRSS1 variant likely affects disease susceptibility by altering expression of the primary trypsinogen gene. The CLDN2 risk allele is associated with atypical localization of claudin-2 in pancreatic acinar cells. [Nat Genet] Abstract | Press Release MiR-197 Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Targeting p120 Catenin Assessing the difference of miRNA expression profiles of invasive ductal adenocarcinoma (IDA), intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma and carcinoma, researchers newly identified miR-197 as an up-regulated miRNA specifically in IDA. Expression of miR-197 in pancreatic cancer cells resulted in the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition along with the down-regulation of p120 catenin which is a putative target of miR-197. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway and Sheddases Play an Essential Role in Ethanol-Induced CX3CL1 Release in Pancreatic Stellate Cells Investigators aimed to determine the effects of cytokines, pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and ethanol and its metabolites on fractalkine (CX3CL1) secretion by pancreatic stellate cells. [Lab Invest] Abstract Sulforaphane Regulates Self-Renewal of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells through the Modulation of Sonic Hedgehog-GLI Pathway Investigators showed for the first time that sulforaphane treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the tumor growth of orthotopically implanted primary pancreatic cancer stem cells isolated from human pancreatic tumors into the pancreas of NOD/SCID/IL2Rgamma mice, which is mediated through the modulation of Sonic hedgehog-GLI signaling. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract |