Pancreatic Cell News Volume 11.17 | May 05 2020

TOP STORY

A Nutrient-Sensing Transition at Birth Triggers Glucose-Responsive Insulin Secretion

Disrupting nutrient sensitivity of mTORC1 in mature β cells reverted insulin secretion to a functionally immature state. Manipulating nutrient sensitivity of mTORC1 in stem cell-derived β cells in vitro strongly enhanced their glucose-responsive insulin secretion. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

Single-Cell Resolution Analysis of the Human Pancreatic Ductal Progenitor Cell Niche

A third potential ducto-endocrine axis was revealed upon integration of the ALK3^bright+ dataset with a single-cell whole-pancreas transcriptome. When transplanted into immunodeficient mice, P2RY1⁺/ALK3^bright+ populations differentiated into all pancreatic lineages, including functional β-cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

Myt Transcription Factors Prevent Stress-Response Gene Overactivation to Enable Postnatal Pancreatic β Cell Proliferation, Function, and Survival

Myt-transcription factors levels were upregulated in mouse and human β cells during metabolic stress-induced compensation but downregulated in dysfunctional type 2 diabetic human β cells. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Islet O-GlcNAcylation Is Required for Lipid Potentiation of Insulin Secretion through SERCA2

Islet O-GlcNAcylation rises and falls in tandem with the timeline of secretory potentiation during high-fat feeding while genetic models of β-cell-specific OGT loss abolish hyperinsulinemic responses to lipids, in vivo and in vitro. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

REST Inhibits Direct Reprogramming of Pancreatic Exocrine to Endocrine Cells by Preventing PDX1-Mediated Activation of Endocrine Genes

Using an in vitro reprogramming system, scientists revealed the transcriptional repressor RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) as a barrier for β cell gene expression in the reprogramming of pancreatic exocrine cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

A Soluble Endoplasmic Reticulum Factor As Regenerative Therapy for Wolfram Syndrome

The authors showed that mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor, a neurotrophic factor secreted from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressed cells, prevented ER stress-mediated β cell death and enhanced β cell proliferation in cell and mouse models of Wolfram syndrome. [Lab Invest] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

MiR-93 Is Related to Poor Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer and Promotes Tumor Progression by Targeting Microtubule Dynamics

MiR-93 depletion in PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells was achieved by CRISPR/Cas9 and miR-93 overexpression in HPDE cells by retroviral transduction. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Rab27a Plays a Dual Role in Metastatic Propensity of Pancreatic Cancer

In metastasis assays, loss of Rab27a expression in tumor cells injected into circulation compromised efficient outgrowth of metastatic lesions. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Core Fucose Specific Lectin from Cephalosporium curvulum Induces Cellular Apoptosis in Hepatocellular and Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Effective in Detecting AFP

Interaction and effect of Cephalosporium curvulum lectin (CSL) and other fucose specific lectins LCA and AOL on HepG2 and PANC-1 cells was investigated. CSL, LCA and AOL exhibited strong binding to PANC-1 cells which could be effectively blocked by competing glycoprotein mucin. [Glycoconj J] Abstract

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Adult Pancreatic Acinar Progenitor-Like Populations in Regeneration and Cancer

The authors describe recent discoveries based on fate-mapping techniques that support the existence of progenitor-like acinar subpopulations, including active progenitor-like cells that maintain tissue homeostasis and facultative progenitor-like cells that drive tissue regeneration. [Trends Mol Med] Abstract

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

Wake Forest School of Medicine Receives NIH Diabetes Research Center Grant with Partner Institutions

Wake Forest School of Medicine, in partnership with University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has been awarded a $5.7 million Diabetes Research Center grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [Wake Forest School of Medicine] Press Release

ERYTECH Granted US FDA Fast Track Designation for Eryaspase in Second-Line Pancreatic Cancer

ERYTECH Pharma announced that the FDA has granted eryaspase Fast Track Designation for the development of a second-line treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. ERYTECH’s lead product candidate, eryaspase, is being evaluated in a Phase III trial in second-line metastatic pancreatic cancer in 11 countries in Europe and the United States. [ERYTECH Pharma] Press Release

Students Stand Up for Sub-Contracted Workers amid COVID-19 Crisis

Students at a number of universities have been advocating for the payment of employees, and especially contracted workers who are more vulnerable to layoffs, as campuses shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. [The Scientist] Editorial

The Pandemic’s Effects on Recruiting International STEM Trainees

Pandemic-related concerns that have arisen for science trainees-shuttered labs, research and education delays, anxiety-are applicable across the board. But international graduate students and postdocs face a suite of unique challenges that raise uncertainty about recruiting and supporting this critical group of researchers in the future. [The Scientist] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Pancreatic Progenitor Research (University of Copenhagen)

PhD/MD/MCh Medical Traineeship – Pancreatic Cancer (University College Dublin)

PhD Studentship – Cancer Biology Research (Danish Cancer Society Research Center)

PhD Research Scientist – Beta Cells in Diet-Induced Diabetes (Medical University of Vienna)

Laboratory Manager – Diabetes (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Inflammatory Cell Death (Genentech)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Cancer Therapeutics (NIH National Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Tumor Metabolism and DNA Repair (The Ohio State University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (The University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Research Positions – Pancreatic Beta-Cells (Université de Montréal)

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