Pancreatic Cell News Volume 2.30 | Aug 2 2011

DIABETES

Ghrelin Attenuates cAMP-PKA Signaling to Evoke Insulinostatic Cascade in Islet β-Cells
This study explored whether ghrelin regulates cAMP signaling and whether this regulation induces insulinostatic cascade in islet β-cells. [Diabetes]

Ceramide Synthase 4 and De Novo Production of Ceramides with Specific N-Acyl Chain Lengths Are Involved in Glucolipotoxicity-Induced Apoptosis of INS-1 β-Cells
Results suggest that glucolipotoxicity induces β-cell apoptosis through a dual mechanism involving de novo ceramide biosynthesis and the formation of ceramides with specific N-acyl chain lengths rather than an overall increase in ceramide content. [Biochem J]

Combinatorial Treatment of Bone Marrow Stem Cells and Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 Improves Glycemia and Insulin Production in Diabetic Mice
Scientists examined the potential for attracting bone marrow stem cells to the pancreas using a chemokine, stromal cell-derived factor 1. [Mol Cell Endocrinol]

Processing of Proglucagon to GLP-1 in Pancreatic Alpha Cells: Is This a Paracrine Mechanism Enabling GLP-1 to Act on Beta Cells?
The aim of this study was to identify mechanisms which switch processing of proglucagon to generate glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in the pancreas, given that GLP-1 can increase insulin secretion and beta cell mass. [J Endocrinol]

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Facilitate Mixed Hematopoietic Chimerism Induction and Prevent Onset of Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice
Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow cells were cotransplanted in nonobese diabetic mice after non myeloablative preconditioning and the development of chimerism, insulitis, diabetes, and graft-versus-host disease were monitored. [Pancreas]

PANCREATIC CANCER

Dendritic Cells Promote Pancreatic Viability in Mice with Acute Pancreatitis
Researchers investigated the roles of dendritic cells in development of acute pancreatitis. [Gastroenterology]

Inhibition of Sonic Hedgehog Pathway and Pluripotency Maintaining Factors Regulate Human Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics
The objectives of this study were to examine the molecular mechanisms by which (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits self-renewal capacity of pancreatic cancer stem cells, and synergizes with quercetin. [Int J Cancer]

Targeting ErbB3-Mediated Stromal–Epithelial Interactions in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Researchers sought to investigate the role of ErbB3-mediated signaling on the interaction between pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts and carcinoma cells in an effort to disrupt tumorigenic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma stromal–epithelial cross-communication. [Br J Cancer]

The Hypofunctional Effect of P335L Single Nucleotide Polymorphism on SSTR5 Function
In the present study scientists sought to determine the distribution of the Somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SSTR5) P335L single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a cohort of pancreatic cancer patients and whether the P335L SNP affected cellular function of SSTR5 in human pancreatic cancer. [World J Surg]

Pancreatic Cancer Alters Human CD4+ T Lymphocyte Function: A Piece in the Immune Evasion Puzzle
To verify whether the dysregulation of CD4+ T cells concurs in worsening the outcome of pancreatic cancer, researchers compared the effects of pancreatic cancer and other gastrointestinal cancer cell-conditioned media on the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of CD4+ T cells and expansion of CD4+ memory, naive, activated, and regulatory subsets. [Pancreas]

FDA Grants Orphan Drug Status to Merrimack Pharmaceuticals’ MM-398, a Nanotherapeutic Encapsulation of Irinotecan, for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted MM-398 orphan drug status for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. [Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]

Axxam and Polyphor Participate in a Research Partnership for the Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Funded by the EU
Axxam Spa and Polyphor Ltd announced a joint discovery research project for the generation of GLP-1R modulators. [Axxam Spa Press Release]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)
 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

National Health Service (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Lab Technologist – Tissue Culture (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research and Development Technologist, hPSC Media (STEMCELL Technologies) 

Scientist (iPSC) (STEMCELL Technologies)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell, Diabetes (City of Hope, Beckman Research Institute)

Early Stage Researcher – Bioinformatics (Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry)

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