DIABETES & PANCREATITIS Generation of Stem Cell-Derived β-Cells from Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Investigators recently reported the scalable in vitro production of functional stem cell-derived β-cells (SC-β cells). Here they extend this approach to generate the first SC-β cells from type 1 diabetic patients. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release Oxytocin Protects against Stress-Induced Cell Death in Murine Pancreatic β-Cells Researchers report that oxytocin (Oxt) signaling attenuates the death of pancreatic beta cells in islets exposed to cytotoxic stresses. The protective effect of Oxt was diminished in islets isolated from oxytocin receptor knockout mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article SP6616 as a New Kv2.1 Channel Inhibitor Efficiently Promotes β-Cell Survival Involving Both PKC/Erk1/2 and CaM/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways Scientist showed that the small molecular compound, SP6616 was discovered to be a new voltage-gated potassium (Kv)2.1 inhibitor. It was effective in both promoting glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and protecting β cells from apoptosis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Acinar Phenotype Is Preserved in Human Exocrine Pancreas Cells Cultured at Low Temperature: Implications for Lineage-Tracing of β-Cell Neogenesis The authors questioned whether human pancreatic acinar cell phenotype could be preserved in vitro by physico-chemical manipulations and whether this could be valuable in the study of β-cell neogenesis. They found that culture at low temperature resulted in the maintenance of morphological and molecular acinar cell characteristics. [Biosci Rep] Full Article PANCREATIC CANCER ARHGEF15 Overexpression Worsens the Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma through Enhancing the Motility and Proliferative Activity of the Cancer Cells The authors identified genes whose expressions are correlated with a poor prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients, and unraveled the mechanisms underlying the involvement of these genes in the development of the cancer. [Mol Cancer] Full Article Interstitial Pressure in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Is Dominated by a Gel-Fluid Phase By interrogating a variety of tissues, tumor types, and experimental model systems, researchers showed that a hyaluronan-dependent fluid phase contributes substantially to pressures in many solid tumors and has been largely unappreciated heretofore. [Biophys J] Abstract | Press Release Transcriptomic and CRISPR/Cas9 Technologies Reveal FOXA2 as a Tumor Suppressor Gene in Pancreatic Cancer Researchers used a systems approach by integrating gene and microRNA profiling analyses together with CRISPR/Cas9 technology, to identify novel transcription factors involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma pathogenesis. [Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol] Abstract Procathepsin E Is Highly Abundant but Minimally Active in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumors Investigators showed that cathepsin E expression in mouse pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors is increased by more than 400-fold when compared to healthy pancreatic tissue. Cathepsin E accumulates over the course of disease progression and accounts for more than 3% of the tumor protein in mice with end-stage disease. [Biol Chem] Abstract |