Pancreatic Cell News Volume 1.12 | Jul 13 2010

Reversal of Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Mouse Models Using Induced-Pluripotent Stem (iPS)-Derived Pancreatic Beta-Like Cells 
Using iPS cells, researchers were able to derive beta-like cells similar to the endogenous insulin-secreting cells in mice. These beta-like cells secreted insulin in response to glucose and corrected a hyperglycemic phenotype in two mouse models of type 1 and 2 diabetes via an iPS cell transplant. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

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“Security Guard” Zinc Is Off-Duty in Diabetes
Researchers found that one of the likely factors stopping amylin from attacking the insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas is zinc, which normally is found in high amounts in these cells, but is deficient in people with type 2 diabetes. [Press release from the University of Michigan discussing online prepublication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society]

FOLFIRINOX Shows Promise as Treatment Option for Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
Although more toxic, the combination of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) provides significantly improved progression-free survival and overall survival, compared with gemcitabine, in patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. [Press release from Doctor’s Guide discussing research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology’s 12th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer]

No Increased Survival with Larotaxel versus 5-FU in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Larotaxel does not increase survival benefit over 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine in previously treated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, according to a multicentre, randomized, open-label Phase III study. [Press release from Doctor’s Guide discussing research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology’s 12th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer]

DIABETES

Role of Zinc in Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Aggregation
The inhibition of the formation of aggregated and toxic forms of human islet amyloid polypeptide by zinc provides a possible mechanism between the recent discovery of linkage between deleterious mutations in the SLC30A8 zinc transporter, which transports zinc into the secretory granule, and type II diabetes. [J Am Chem Soc]

NOX2 Deficiency Protects Against Streptozotocin-Induced Beta Cell Destruction and Development of Diabetes in Mice
NOX2 deficiency decreases beta cell destruction and preserves islet function in streptozotocin-induced diabetes by reducing reactive oxygen species production, immune response and beta cell apoptosis. [Diabetes]

G(alpha)o Represses Insulin Secretion by Reducing Vesicular Docking in Pancreatic Beta Cells
G(alpha)o is not required for endocrine islet cell differentiation but it regulates the number of insulin vesicles docked on beta cell membrane. [ Diabetes]

Decreased IRS Signaling Impairs Beta Cell Cycle Progression and Survival in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing S6K in Beta Cells
Experiments demonstrate that in vivo down-regulation of IRS signaling by TORC1/S6K induces beta cell insulin resistance and that this mechanism could explain some of the abnormalities that ultimately result in beta cell failure and diabetes in conditions of nutrient overload. [Diabetes ]

Rgs16 and Rgs8 in Embryonic Endocrine Pancreas and Mouse Models of Diabetes
Researchers show that the regulators of G protein signaling Rgs16 and Rgs8 are expressed in pancreatic progenitor and endocrine cells during development, then extinguished in adults, but reactivated in models of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. [Dis Model Mech]

PANCREATIC CANCER

Notch2 Is Required for Progression of Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Development of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Using genetically engineered mice, researchers demonstrated the effect of conditional Notch receptor ablation in Kras^G12D-driven pancreatic carcinogenesis. Deficiency of Notch2 but not Notch1 stops pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia progression, prolongs survival, and leads to a phenotypical switch toward anaplastic pancreatic cancer with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

miRNA-96 Suppresses KRAS and Functions as a Tumor Suppressor Gene in Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers report that miR-96 directly targets the KRAS oncogene and functions as a tumor-suppressing microRNA (miRNA) in pancreatic cancer cells. [ Cancer Res]

Development of an Orthotopic Model of Invasive Pancreatic Cancer in an Immunocompetent Murine Host
Researchers have developed a rapid, predictable orthotopic model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in immunocompetent mice that mimics human pancreatic cancer with regard to genetic mutations, histologic appearance, and pattern of disease progression. [Clin Cancer Res]

Analysis of the Pancreatic Low Molecular Weight Proteome in an Animal Model of Acute Pancreatitis
Data suggest that peptidomic analysis is a complementary approach to proteomics for investigating pathobiological processes involved in acute pancreatitis. [J Proteome Res]

MicroRNA, hsa-miR-200c, Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Pancreatic Cancer and Its Upregulation Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Invasion but Increases Cell Proliferation
Researchers found that patients with high levels of miR-200c expression had significantly better survival rates than those with low levels of miR-200c expression. [Mol Cancer]

Lilly to Acquire Alnara Pharmaceuticals
Eli Lilly and Company and Alnara Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced they have signed a definitive merger agreement whereby Lilly will acquire Alnara. Alnara’s lead product in development is liprotamase, a non-porcine pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. [Eli Lilly and Company Press Release]

Roche and IBM Collaborate to Develop Nanopore-Based DNA Sequencing Technology
Roche and IBM announced an agreement to develop a nanopore-based sequencer that will directly read and decode human DNA quickly and efficiently. [Roche Press Release]

Bioethics Council Hears Pleas for More Oversight of Synthetic Biology
A presidential bioethics commission took up a burning new issue in science: the risks and benefits of synthetic biology. [Bioethics Council, United States]

Harold Varmus Sworn in as National Cancer Institute’s 14th Director
Nobel Prize winner Harold E. Varmus, M.D., today took the oath of office to become the National Cancer Institute’s 14th director. [National Cancer Institute, United State]

Berwick Appointed to Head CMS Without Senate Vote
Pediatrician Donald Berwick, MD, a leading advocate of patient safety and quality improvement in healthcare, became the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today without a bruising Senate confirmation process. [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, United States]

Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Elects Margaret Conn Himelfarb as Chair
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission announced that it has elected Margaret Conn Himelfarb as chair and Bowen P. Weisheit, Jr. as vice chair. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission, United States]

Genetic Testing Clamp Down
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has told five genetic test manufacturers that their products need the agency’s blessing before they can be sold to consumers. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
 
Britain Delays Controversial Assessment Scheme for Research
Britain’s new science minister made good a manifesto pledge today when he announced that the coalition government would delay for one year the implementation of the controversial Research Excellence Framework, a system of assessing university departments for the distribution of funding. [Ministry of Universities and Science, United Kingdom]

MHRA Annual Report and Accounts 2009/10
The Annual Report and Accounts give a selective overview of the events that have had most impact on the Agency during the past year, highlighting the landmark events and the safety issues the Agency has had to deal with, including the rise and global spread of pandemic influenza H1N1. [Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom]

Spanish Science Spending Lockdown
Spain’s science and innovation minister said that research funding will be “frozen or minimally reduced” as a result of government-wide austerity measures. [Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain]

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Notice of Closed Meeting [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products: Establishment Registration and Listing; Form FDA 3356; Eligibility Determination for Donors; and Current Good Tissue Practice [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0101] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC); Notice of Meeting [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States]

Request for Information (RFI) on the National Institutes of Health Plan to Develop the Genetic Testing Registry; Notice [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Notice of Closed Meeting [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation; Notice of Meeting [National Institutes of Health, United States]

2010 World Cancer Congress
August 18-21, 2010
Shenzhen, China

Select Biosciences Inaugural Cellular Therapy Summit
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Meeting – Advancing the Life Sciences
September 4-7, 2010
Barcelona, Spain

The Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) 2010 Scientific Meeting 
September 9-10, 2010
Oxford, United Kingdom

Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
September 13-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States 

Annual Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) World Congress
September 19-23, 2010
Sydney, Australia

Institute of Medicine – University of Illinois at Chicago Midwest Conference on Diabetes and Obesity
September 21, 2010
Chicago, United States

35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress
October 8-12, 2010
Milan, Italy

Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010
October 29-30, 2010
Leipzig, Germany

2010 American Pancreatic Association (APA) Annual Meeting
November 3-6, 2010
Chicago, United States

Select Biosciences International Forum on Stem Cells
November 12-13, 2010
Tianjin, China

Visit our events page  to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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