Pancreatic Cell News Volume 10.06 | Feb 19 2019

TOP STORY

Diabetes Relief in Mice by Glucose-Sensing Insulin-Secreting Human α-Cells

Researchers showed that islet non-β-cells, namely α-cells and pancreatic polypeptide-producing γ-cells, obtained from deceased non-diabetic or diabetic human donors, could be lineage-traced and reprogrammed by the transcription factors PDX1 and MAFA to produce and secrete insulin in response to glucose. [Nature] Abstract | Editorial | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

MicroRNA-24 Promotes Pancreatic Beta Cells toward Dedifferentiation to Avoid Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis

Investigators found that miR-24 overabundance protected beta cells from thapsigargin-induced apoptosis at the cost of accelerating the impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and enhancing the presence of dedifferentiation markers. [Mol Cell Biol] Full Article

Exocrine Tissue-Driven TFF2 Prevents Apoptotic Cell Death of Endocrine Lineage during Pancreas Organogenesis

Using an in vitro explant culture of embryonic pancreatic tissue, the authors demonstrated that trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) prevented the apoptosis of insulin-producing cells but that antagonizing CXCR4, a known TFF2 receptor, suppressed this anti-apoptotic effect in the mutants. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Inositol Pyrophosphates and Akt: Is the Pancreatic β-Cell the Exception to the Rule?

To test whether the mechanism of diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate inhibition of Akt/PKB still exists in β-cells, scientists treated them at basal glucose with an insulin concentration equivalent to that reached during glucose stimulation. TNP potentiated the Akt/PKB phosphorylation of T308 induced by exogenous insulin. [Cell Signal] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

HM-Chromanone Isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. Protects INS-1 Pancreatic β Cells against Glucotoxicity-Induced Apoptosis

Treatment with (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2′-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone dose-dependently increased cell viability and significantly decreased the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and nitric oxide levels in INS-1 pancreatic β cells pretreated with high glucose. [Nutrients] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

miR-135 Suppresses Glycolysis and Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Cell Adaptation to Metabolic Stress by Targeting Phosphofructokinase-1

Scientists found that miR-135 targeted phosphofructokinase-1 and inhibited aerobic glycolysis, thereby promoting the utilization of glucose to support the tricarboxylic acid cycle. [Nat Commun] Full Article

MDH1 and MPP7 Regulate Autophagy in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

MAGUK p55 subfamily member 7 (MPP7) was involved in the activation of YAP1, which in turn promoted autophagy, whereas cytosolic Malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1) was required for the maintenance of the levels of the essential autophagy initiator serine-threonine kinase ULK1, and increased in activity upon induction of autophagy. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Fisetin Induces Autophagy in Pancreatic Cancer Cells via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress- and Mitochondrial Stress-Dependent Pathways

Investigators revealed that fisetin inhibited PANC-1 cell proliferation using a real-time cell analysis system. Moreover, the in vivo antitumor effect of fisetin was verified in pancreatic cancer using a luciferase-expressing murine xenograft pancreatic cancer model. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

miR-30a Regulates Cancer Cell Response to Chemotherapy through SNAI1/IRS1/AKT Pathway

miR-30a directly targeted SNAI1, which activated AKT and ERK by regulating IRS1 in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, miR-30a was downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissue and associated with overall patient survival. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

BAG3 Deletion Suppresses Stem Cell-Like Features of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma via Translational Suppression of ISG15

Both BAG3 deletion and IFN-stimulated genes 15 (ISG15) knockdown suppressed stem cell-like phenotypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer cells, including clonogenicity, invasiveness and spheroid formation. [Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res] Abstract

Skp2 Expression Is Inhibited by Arsenic Trioxide through the Upregulation of miRNA-330-5p in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment upregulated the expression of miR-330-5p. Moreover, miR-330-5p inhibitor rescued the ATO-mediated tumor-suppressive function. [Mol Ther Oncolytics] Full Article

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Hepatic Cell News & Intestinal Cell News.

Early Intra-Acinar Events in Pathogenesis of Pancreatitis

Recent development of novel models to study the role of pathologic enzyme activation has led to advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of pancreatic injury. Better understanding of these mechanisms will hopefully allow researchers to improve treatment strategies in acute and chronic pancreatitis. [Gastroenterology] Abstract

Reflections on Depletion of Tumor Stroma in Pancreatic Cancer

In-depth understanding of the critical role of the stroma in cancer metastasis may improve therapeutic approaches by allowing them to harness specific features of the stroma to treat pancreatic cancer. [Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pancreatic cell research field.

Oncotelic Reports that Its Proprietary In-Situ Cancer Vaccine Improved Survival over Standard Chemotherapy in Patients with Recurrent Metastatic Pancreas Cancer and Recurrent High Grade Glioma

Oncotelic announced the plan for its registration trials, which are meant to confirm the clinical outcome of its Phase II trials. During the Phase I/II P001 trial of OT-101, disease control was achieved in 19 of 35 evaluable pancreas cancer patients. [Press release from Oncotelic, Inc. (GlobeNewswire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the 11th AACR-JCA Joint Conference on Breakthroughs in Cancer Research, Ka’anapali] Press Release

CytoDyn to Initiate 8 Pre-Clinical Animal Studies with Leronlimab (PRO 140) for Melanoma, Pancreatic, Breast, Prostate, Colon, Lung, Liver, and Stomach Cancer at an Estimated Cost of $1.5 Million, Which Could Lead to Eight Phase II Clinical Studies

CytoDyn Inc. announced that its new laboratory located in Philadelphia under the leadership of Professor Richard G. Pestell, Chief Medical Officer and Vice Chairman of CytoDyn, will conduct eight pre-clinical studies on melanoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, and stomach cancer. [CytoDyn Inc.] Press Release

Caladrius Biosciences Reports Top-Line Data for the Phase IIa Sanford Project: T-Rex Trial of CLBS03 for Recent Onset Type 1 Diabetes

Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. announced top-line results from The Sanford Project: T-Rex Study, a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase IIa clinical trial of 110 subjects to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the company’s CLBS03 as a treatment for recent-onset type 1 diabetes in adolescents. [Caladrius Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

American Diabetes Association^® Names Three Awardees for $4.875 Million in 2019 Pathway to Stop Diabetes Research Grants

The American Diabetes Association announced it is awarding this year’s prestigious Pathway to Stop Diabetes grants, totaling $4.875 million dollars, to three researchers, with each scientist receiving $1.625 million dollars over a five-year grant term to support breakthroughs in basic science, clinical science, technology, care and potential cures in the field of diabetes. [American Diabetes Association] Press Release

Australia Dials Back Effort to Control ‘Dual Use’ Research

A review of Australian export laws has pushed back against the government’s effort to tighten controls on technologies and research that might have dual military and non-military uses. Australian researchers, who were concerned that sweeping controls would restrict collaborative research, have welcomed the findings. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Science Adviser Calls for More Collaboration Between Industry and Government

Kelvin Droegemeier, newly minted science adviser to US President Donald Trump, wants industry to take a larger role in funding research, with the ultimate goal of ushering in a “second golden era” of US science. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 3^rd SUNRiSE Meeting : New Advances in Cancer Stem Cells
May 16-17, 2019
Nice, France

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral and Clinical Research Training Fellowships (Multiple) – Diabetes and Metabolism (University of Oxford)

NEW Junior Scientists (Multiple) – Diabetes (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Position – Pancreatic Tissue Engineering (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Stem Cell and Cancer Research (University of Oxford)

Professor – Diabetes (University of California, San Diego)

PhD Position – Pancreatic Cancer (Universitätsklinikum Münster)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pancreatic Beta-Cells (City of Hope)

Clinical Professor – Diabetes (University of Southern Denmark)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Pancreatic Cancer (Dartmouth College)

Postdoctoral Fellowships – Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

Faculty Positions – Diabetes and Metabolism (Texas Tech University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience and Diabetes (The Child Health Institute of New Jersey)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Pancreatic Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.