DIABETES & PANCREATITIS ADCY5 Couples Glucose to Insulin Secretion in Human Islets Researchers demonstrated that ADCY5 is indispensable for coupling glucose, but not GLP-1, to insulin secretion in human islets. [Diabetes] Abstract Pancreatic ß Cell Failure Mediated by mTORC1 Hyperactivity and Autophagic Impairment Using a mouse model with ß cell specific deletion of Tsc2 and consequently mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) hyperactivation, scientists focused on the role that chronic mTORC1 hyperactivation might be having on ß cell failure. [Diabetes] Abstract The Nucleotide Exchange Factor SIL1 Is Required for Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion from Mouse Pancreatic Beta Cells In Vivo Researchers showed that SIL1 is expressed in pancreatic beta cells and is required for islet insulin content, islet sizing, glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo. [Diabetologia] Abstract Indomethacin Treatment Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance, but Not Glucose Intolerance in C57BL/6J Mice Researchers demonstrated that indomethacin did not inhibit glucose stimulated insulin-secretion per se, but activation of GPR40 in the presence of indomethacin inhibited glucose-dependent insulin secretion in MIN6 cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Co-Transplantation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Pancreatic Islets to Induce Long-Lasting Normoglycemia in Streptozotocin-Treated Diabetic Rats Scientists co-transplanted endothelial progenitor cells and islets in the portal vein of chemically-induced diabetic rats to restore islet vascularization and to improve graft survival. [PLoS One] Full Article PANCREATIC CANCER Differentially Expressed miRNAs in Cancer Stem Like Cells: Markers for Tumor Cell Aggressiveness of Pancreatic Cancer Researchers showed that isolated CD44+/CD133+/EpCAM+ cells from human pancreatic cancer cell lines, MiaPaCa-2 and L3.6pl cells display aggressive characteristics such as increased cell growth, clonogenicity, cell migration, and self-renewal capacity, which is consistent with over-expression of cancer stem like cell signatures/markers. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Influence of Interferon-a on the Expression of the Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells Researchers demonstrated for the first time that interferon-a up-regulates the expression of the cancer stem cells markers CD24, CD44 and CD133 in in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract 7B7: A Novel Antibody Directed against the Ku70/Ku80 Heterodimer Blocks Invasion in Pancreatic and Lung Cancer Cells A clonal population of the Mia PaCa-2, a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line, which displays a highly invasive phenotype, was used to generate MAbs with the objective of identifying membrane targets directly involved in cancer invasion. [Tumor Biol] Abstract GPC1 Regulated by miR-96-5p, Rather than miR-182-5p, in Inhibition of Pancreatic Carcinoma Cell Proliferation Researchers investigated the proliferation, cycle and apotosis in cells transfected with mimics/inhibitors of the two miRNAs, and determine their effects on GPC1 by dual-luciferase assay. [Int J Mol Sci] Abstract | Download Full Article Designing of Promiscuous Inhibitors against Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines Scientists developed QSAR models for predicting promiscuous inhibitors using the pharmacological data. Their models have also successfully validated the drug-to-oncogene relationship and further they used these models to screen FDA approved drugs and tested them in vitro. [Sci Rep] Full Article |