Pancreatic Cell News Volume 4.32 | Aug 20 2013

Implanted Islets in the Anterior Chamber of the Eye Are Prone to Autoimmune Attack in a Mouse Model of Diabetes
Scientists examined the anterior chamber of the eye as a potential islet transplant site, and also evaluated whether in vivo imaging of the islets transplanted in the eye could enable real-time visualization of autoimmune processes underway in the pancreas. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Rhein Protects Pancreatic β-Cells from Dynamin-Related Protein-1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission and Cell Apoptosis under Hyperglycemia
Rhein, an anthraquinone compound isolated from rhubarb, has been shown to improve glucose metabolism disorders in diabetic mice. The authors demonstrated that Rhein can protect the pancreatic β-cells against hyperglycemia-induced cell apoptosis through stabilizing mitochondrial morphology. [Diabetes] Abstract

Multimodal Function of the Sweet Taste Receptor Expressed in Pancreatic β-Cells: Generation of Diverse Patterns of Intracellular Signals by Sweet Agonists
The sweet taste receptor is expressed in the taste bud and is activated by numerous sweet molecules with diverse chemical structures. It is, however, not known whether these sweet agonists induce a similar cellular response in target cells. Using MIN6 cells, a pancreatic β-cell line expressing endogenous sweet taste receptor, the authors addressed this question by monitoring changes in cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ and cAMP induced by four sweet taste receptor agonists. [Endocr J] Abstract | Full Article

Grb10 Inhibits Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Release from Pancreatic β-Cells Associated with Suppression of Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling Pathway
Scientists demonstrated that growth receptor binding protein 10 (Grb10) is an important negative regulator of insulin/IGF-1 signaling in pancreatic β-cells and a potential target to improve β-cell function. [Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

Flavonoid Apigenin Modified Gene Expression Associated with Inflammation and Cancer and Induced Apoptosis in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells through Inhibition of GSK-3β/NF-κB Signaling Cascade
Scientists examined the inhibitory effects of citrus fruit bioactive compounds on BxPC-3 and PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells, focusing on the antiproliferative mechanism of action of the flavonoid apigenin related to the glycogen synthase kinase-3β/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway. [Mol Nutr Food Res] Abstract | Press Release

Increased B Cell-Activating Factor Promotes Tumor Invasion and Metastasis in Human Pancreatic Cancer
In this study, clinical evidence of increased B cell-activating factor (BAFF) levels in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was obtained, and the roles and mechanisms of BAFF in PDAC were clarified in human tissues of PDAC and from in vitro data of PDAC cell lines. [PLoS One] Full Article

Digalloylresveratrol, a Novel Resveratrol Analog Inhibits the Growth of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells
The authors investigated the effects of digalloylresveratrol (DIG) in the human AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. Treatment with DIG dose-dependently attenuated cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and led to a significant depletion of the dATP pool in AsPC-1 cells. [Invest New Drugs] Abstract

High Glucose Activates the Alternative Angiotensin‑Converting Enzyme2/Angiotensin (Ang)‑(1‑7)/Mas and APN/Ang IV/IRAP RAS Axes in Pancreatic β‑Cells
In this study, using the BRIN‑BD11 rat insulinoma cell line, researchers examined the basal expression levels of components of classical and alternative renin‑angiotensin system (RAS) axes and investigated the effects of normal and elevated glucose concentrations on their expression and/or enzymatic activity by means of reverse transcription quantitative PCR, immunoblot analysis and enzymatic activity assays. [Int J Mol Med] Abstract

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Diabetes & Obesity Center Wins Second Multimillion-Dollar NIH Grant
The University of Louisville’s Diabetes and Obesity Center has received a five-year $11.25 million Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A five-year COBRE grant funded establishment of the center in 2008. The center’s ultimate goal is to discover new and effective means for preventing and treating diabetes and obesity. [University of Louisville] Press Release

Montefiore Medical Center Joins as a Collaborator on Precision Biologics Phase IIB Pancreatic Cancer Trial
Precision Biologics announced the addition of Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, as a collaborator on its ongoing Phase IIB study designed to evaluate the efficacy of combining NPC-1C its lead therapeutic compound, with the chemotherapy drug Gemcitabine. [Precision Biologics Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Pancreatic Beta Cell Regeneration and Survival (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Diabetes and Molecular Endocrinology (University of Illinois)

Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Molecular Mechanisms of Pancreatic Beta Cell Dysfunction (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

Research Associate – Pancreatic Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Senior Scientist – Pancreas Development (AstraZeneca)

Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

PhD Positions – Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Acinar Cell Proliferation (University Hospital Zuerich)

Postdoctoral Researcher (The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)

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