DIABETES & PANCREATITIS Transcriptional Profiling Reveals Functional Links between RasGrf1 and Pttg1 in Pancreatic Beta Cells Researchers compared the transcriptional profile of highly purified pancreatic islets from RasGrf1 KO mice to that of WT control animals using commercial oligonucleotide microarrays. RasGrf1 elimination resulted in differential gene expression of numerous components of MAPK- and calcium-signaling pathways, suggesting a relevant contribution of this guanine nucleotide exchange factor to modulation of cellular signaling in the cell lineages integrating the pancreatic islets. [BMC Genomics] Full Article Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate-Induced Apoptosis in Rat INS-1 Cells Is Dependent on Activation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Suppression of Antioxidant Protection Scientists investigated the cytotoxic effects of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on INS-1 cells and to explore the related underlying mechanisms. They showed that DEHP decreased insulin secretion and content and induced apoptosis in INS-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article Omega-3 Supplementation Improves Pancreatic Islet Redox Status: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies Researchers evaluated the potential changes induced by fish oil supplementation on the redox status of pancreatic islets from healthy rats. To test whether these effects were due to eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (omega-3), in vitro experiments were performed. [Pancreas] Abstract The ACE2-Angiotensin-(1-7)-Mas Axis Protects against Pancreatic Cell Damage in Cell Culture Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), its product angiotensin-(1-7), and its receptor Mas have been shown to moderate the adverse effects of the ACE-angiotensin II-AT1 axis in many diseases. Scientists determined whether the ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis could have similar effects in a cell culture model of pancreatic damage. [Pancreas] Abstract Overexpression of Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Promotes Apoptosis and Impairs Insulin Secretion in Rat Insulinoma Cells Scientists evaluated the effects of overexpressing activation of Ang II type 2 receptor (AT2R) by viral vector transduction on the apoptosis and function of pancreatic β-islet cells. The rat insulinoma cell line, INS-1, was transduced with a recombinant adenoviral vector expressing AT2R. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract PANCREATIC CANCER Neurogenin 3-Directed Cre Deletion of Tsc1 Gene Causes Pancreatic Acinar Carcinoma Scientists show that neurogenin 3 directed Cre deletion of Tsc1 gene induces the development of pancreatic acinar carcinoma. [Neoplasia] Full Article Nuclear Localized FAM21 Participates in NF-κB-Dependent Gene Regulation in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Investigators demonstrate that FAM21 depletion sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil. [J Cell Sci] Abstract miR-23a/-24-Induced Gene Silencing Results in Mesothelial Cell Integration of Pancreatic Cancer Researchers examined the invasion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells into the mesothelial barrier and identified the related microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles. The interactions between PDAC cells and mesothelial monolayers were characterized and quantified using a specific time-lapse videomicroscopy assay. [Br J Cancer] Abstract The Marine Natural Product Microsclerodermin A Is a Novel Inhibitor of the Nuclear Factor Kappa B and Induces Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Microsclerodermin A is shown here to inhibit nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) transcriptional activity in a reporter cell line, to reduce levels of phosphorylated NFκB in the AsPC-1 cell line, to have an IC50 for cytotoxicity in the low micromolar range against the AsPC-1, BxPC-3, MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cell lines, and to induce significant apoptosis in the AsPC-1, BxPC-3 and the PANC-1 cell lines. [Invest New Drugs] Abstract |