Pancreatic Cell News Volume 3.44 | Nov 6 2012

DIABETES

Adenoviral Vectors Stimulate Glucagon Transcription in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expressing Pancreatic Transcription Factors
Forced expression of key regulators of pancreatic differentiation in stem cells, liver cells, pancreatic duct cells, or cells from the exocrine pancreas, can lead to the initiation of endocrine pancreatic differentiation. In this study, researchers examined whether the viral vector system itself could impact the differentiation capacity of human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells toward the endocrine lineage. [PLoS One] Full Article

MicroRNA Target Sites as Genetic Tools to Enhance Promoter-Reporter Specificity for the Purification of Pancreatic Progenitor Cells from Differentiated Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers found that microRNA target sites are efficient regulatory elements to control transgene expression and to enhance tissue specificity as presented in this study facilitating the sorting and purification of Pdx1-positive pancreatic progenitor cells. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

Glucose-Dependent Regulation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in MIN6 Beta Cells Is Not Affected by the Protein Kinase A Pathway
In pancreatic beta cells, glucose induces the dephosphorylation of Thr172 within the catalytic subunit and the inactivation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) complex. Researchers demonstrated that glucose also activates protein kinase A, leading to the phosphorylation of AMPKα at Ser485 and Ser497. [FEBS Lett] Abstract | Full Article

Localization and Regulation of Pancreatic Selenoprotein P
The authors investigated the pancreatic expression pattern and regulation of selenoprotein P (SeP) that may serve as an additional antioxidant enzyme inside and outside of cells. They showed that pancreatic islets express relatively high levels of SeP that may fulfill a function in antioxidant protection of beta-cells. [J Mol Endocrinol] Abstract

The Human Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analogue Liraglutide Regulates Pancreatic Beta-Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis via an AMPK/mTOR/P70S6K Signaling Pathway
Results suggest that the enhancement of beta-cell proliferation by the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist liraglutide is mediated, at least in part, by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Liraglutide also prevents beta-cell glucolipotoxicity by activating mTOR. [Peptides] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

UCP2 Inhibition Triggers ROS-Dependent Nuclear Translocation of GAPDH and Autophagic Cell Death in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Cells
Researchers demonstrated that mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) inhibition by genipin or UCP2 siRNA strongly increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production inhibiting pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell growth. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Mdm2 Inhibitors Synergize with Topoisomerase II Inhibitors to Induce p53-Independent Pancreatic Cancer Cell Death
To investigate the effects of Mdm2 (murine double minute 2) inhibitors in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), investigators used a murine cell line platform with a genetically defined status of p53. They found that Mdm2 inhibitors can act on a subset of murine PDAC cell lines p53-independently. Furthermore, they observed that Mdm2 inhibitors increase the sensitivity of murine PDAC cell lines towards topoisomerase II inhibitors by inducing effector caspase-independent cell death. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Genetic Modification of Cancer Cells Using Non-Viral, Episomal S/MAR Vectors for In Vivo Tumor Modeling
Recently, the authors generated an episomally maintained plasmid DNA (pDNA) expression system based on Scaffold/Matrix Attachment Region (S/MAR), which permits long-term luciferase transgene expression in the mouse liver. Here they described a further usage of this pDNA vector with the human Ubiquitin C promoter to create stably transfected human hepatoma and human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, which were delivered into “immune deficient” mice and monitored longitudinally over time using a bioluminometer. [PLoS One]
Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Regulate Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Tumor Progression of Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Investigators reported that alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblast-like cells originating from mesenchymal stem cells contribute to inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in side population cells of pancreatic cancer. [Cancer Sci] Abstract

REVIEWS

Nuvilex Initial Pancreatic Cancer Trial Preparations Underway
Nuvilex, Inc. announced a contract has been signed with ViruSure GmbH to perform the initial amplification of cells to ultimately be used in Nuvilex’s treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. [GlobeNewswire, Inc.] Press Release

First Gene Therapy Approved by European Commission
uniQure announced it has received approval from the European Commission for the gene therapy Glybera®, a treatment for patients with lipoprotein lipase deficiency suffering from recurring acute pancreatitis. [uniQure BV] Press Release

Unprecedented $3.5 Million Raised for Pancreatic Cancer Research at the BC Cancer Foundation’s 2012 Inspiration Gala
BC Cancer Foundation Inspiration Gala guests took philanthropy to new heights at the sold-out affair, raising a momentous $3.5 million for pancreatic cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency. [BC Cancer Foundation] 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)

NEW Target Meeting’s 2nd World Cancer Online Conference
January 8-11, 2013
Webinar

NEW Engineering Conferences International: Scale-Up and Manufacturing of Cell-Based Therapies II
January 21-23, 2013
San Diego, United States

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

Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Product Manager – Hematopoietic (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Product Quality Scientist (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Endothelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Beta Cell Biology and Translational Research (University of California, Los Angeles)

Postdoctoral Position – Signaling Pathways Pancreatic Beta-Cells (CNRS – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Postdoctoral Position – Beta Cell Biology (Umea Center for Molecular Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Stem Cells (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Postdoctoral Position – Pancreatic Cancer Research (University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Beta-Cell Regeneration in Zebrafish (Karolinska Institute, Cell and Molecular Biology)


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