DIABETES & PANCREATITIS Reduced Interleukin-2 Responsiveness Impairs the Ability of Treg Cells to Compete for IL-2 in Nonobese Diabetic Mice The authors investigated how IL-2 pathway defects impact regulatory T cell (Treg) cells in type 1 diabetes susceptible nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice in comparison to protected C57BL/6 and NOD congenic mice. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract Overexpression of a Glucokinase Point Mutant in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Investigators showed that streptozotocin-induced diabetic murine model exhibits low glucokinase expression with high blood glucose levels; moreover, aggravated glomerulonephritis is observed in the model when IL10 is deficient. [Gene Ther] Abstract | Full Article Insulin Deficiency Induces Rat Renal Mesangial Cell Dysfunction via Activation of IGF-1/IGF-1R Pathway Researchers investigated the insulin deficiency induced changes in renal mesangial cells and in the kidney of STZ-induced diabetic rats. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Full Article Argirein Alleviates Stress-Induced and Diabetic Hypogonadism in Rats via Normalizing Testis Endothelin Receptor A and Connexin 43 Researchers investigated the effects of argirein on stress-induced (hyper-gonadotrophic) and diabetic (hypo-gonadotrophic) hypogonadism in male rats. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract Peptide Micelle-Mediated Curcumin Delivery for Protection of Islet Beta-Cells Under Hypoxia R3V6 peptide micelles, composed of a 3-arginine stretch and 6-valine stretch, were evaluated as a curcumin carrier to INS-1 insulinoma cells. [J Drug Target] Abstract PANCREATIC CANCER Hepatocyte Growth Factor Inhibition: A Novel Therapeutic Approach in Pancreatic Cancer Researchers showed that human pancreatic stellate cells secrete HGF but do not express the receptor c-MET, which is present predominantly on cancer cells. HGF inhibition was as effective as standard chemotherapy in inhibiting local tumor growth but was significantly more effective than gemcitabine in reducing tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. [Br J Cancer] Abstract The Hydroxyl at Position C1 of Genipin Is the Active Inhibitory Group that Affects Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein 2 in Panc-1 Cells Four genipin (GNP) derivatives in which the hydroxyl at position C10 or C1 was replaced with other chemical groups were synthesized and isolated. Differences in the inhibitory effects of GNP and its four derivatives on pancreatic carcinoma cell (Panc-1) proliferation were assessed. [PLoS One] Full Article Monocarboxylate Transporters MCT1 and MCT4 Regulate Migration and Invasion of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells Monocarboxylate transporter expression, localization, activity, and function were explored in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells and normal human pancreatic ductal epithelial cells, by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, lactate flux, migration, and invasion assays. [Pancreas] Abstract Germline Mutation of the CCK Receptor: A Novel Biomarker for Pancreas Cancer Scientists have identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism that results in missplicing of the cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor gene and expressing a larger mutated receptor in pancreatic cancer. [Clin Transl Gastroenterol] Full Article |