Pancreatic Cell News Volume 4.34 | Sep 3 2013

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    Pancreatic Cell News 4.34 September 3, 2013

    Pancreatic Cell News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Science News | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    Conditional Hypovascularization and Hypoxia in Islets Does Not Overtly Influence Adult Beta Cell Mass and Function
    A novel mouse model was designed to allow conditional production of human sFlt1 by beta cells in order to trap vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and study the effect of time-dependent inhibition of VEGF signaling on adult beta cell fate and metabolism. [Diabetes] Abstract
    Take the 'if' out of 'diff': Reduce variability when differentiating to endothelial cells

     
    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    Exendin-4 Protects Pancreatic Beta Cells from Palmitate-Induced Apoptosis by Interfering with GPR40 and the MKK4/7 Stress Kinase Signaling Pathway
    Exposure of human and murine primary islets and INS-1E cells, but not alpha-TC1-6 cells, to exendin-4 inhibited phosphorylation of the stress kinases, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and prevented apoptosis in response to palmitate. [Diabetologia] Abstract

    Potent Humanin Analog Increases Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion through Enhanced Metabolism in the ß Cell
    Scientists examined the acute effects of humanin (HN) on insulin secretion and potential mechanisms through which they are mediated. Effects of a potent HN analog, HNGF6A, on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were assessed in vivo and in isolated pancreatic islets and cultured murine ß cell line in vitro. [FASEB J] Abstract

    Mutations in SLC2A2 Reveal hGLUT2 Function in Pancreatic Beta Cell Development
    The structure-function relationships of sugar transporter-receptor hGLUT2 coded by SLC2A2 and their impact on insulin secretion and ß cell differentiation were investigated through the detailed characterization of a panel of mutations along the protein. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

    TNF-Like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis (TWEAK) Promotes Beta Cell Neogenesis from Pancreatic Ductal Epithelium in Adult Mice
    TWEAK stimulates proliferation of ductal epithelial cells through its receptor Fn14, while it has no mitogenic effect on pancreatic a- or ß-cells or acinar cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

    FGF7 and Cell Density Are Required for Final Differentiation of Pancreatic Amylase-Positive Cells from Human ES Cells
    Scientists examined the role of fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) in the final induction of pancreatic amylase-containing exocrine cells from induced-pancreatic progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem (ES) cells. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract

    Nkx2.2:Cre Knock-In Mouse Line: A Novel Tool for Pancreas and CNS -Specific Gene Deletion
    Lineage studies verified Nkx2.2 expression in the earliest pancreatic progenitors that give rise to all cell types of the pancreas; however they also revealed more robust Cre activity in the dorsal versus ventral pancreas. [Genesis] Abstract

    PANCREATIC CANCER

    A Tumorigenic Factor Interactome Connected through Tumor Suppressor MicroRNA-198 in Human Pancreatic Cancer
    Researchers found that microRNA (miR)-198 is downregulated in pancreatic cancer and is involved in an intricate reciprocal regulatory loop with mesothelin, which represses miR-198 through NF-?B-mediated POU2F2 induction. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

    Hypoxia-Induced Snail Expression Through Transcriptional Regulation by HIF-1a in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
    Morphology analysis and tumor cell migration and invasion assays were performed to detect phenotypic changes of pancreatic cancer cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions after lentiviral HIF-1a shRNA transfection. Under hypoxic conditions, these tumor cells underwent typical morphological and molecular changes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition. [Dig Dis Sci] Abstract

    MicroRNA-21 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumor-Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Metastasis
    Dysregulation of microRNA (miR) regulatory networks in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) have not been previously described. In this study, researchers showed that miR-21 expression in TAFs promotes tumor cell invasion. [PLoS One] Full Article

    Derivation of Metabolically Active Hepatocytes from Pluripotent Stem Cells - View On-Demand Webinar Now.

     
    REVIEWS
    Zinc and Insulin in Pancreatic Beta-Cells
    The authors discuss the Zn2+ homeostasis in ß-cells with emphasis on the potential signaling role of Zn2+ to islet biology. [Endocrine] Abstract

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

     
    SCIENCE NEWS
    Isis Reports Interim Phase II Data on ISIS-APOCIII Rx as a Single Agent in Patients with Very High to Severely High Triglycerides
    Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced interim data from an ongoing Phase II study of ISIS-APOCIIIRx as a monotherapy in patients with very high to severely high triglycerides. [Press release from Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discussing research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2013, Amsterdam] Press Release

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    INDUSTRY NEWS
    Oramed Submits Pre-IND Package to FDA for ORMD-0901 (Oral Exenatide), an Oral GLP-1 Analog for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
    Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has submitted a pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) package to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ORMD-0901, an orally administered exenatide capsule. [Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

    Stem Cell Agency Awards More than $40 Million in New Research Grants
    The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s governing Board, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, approved $40 million in funding for researchers at 10 institutions including Stanford, UCLA, UC San Diego, Human BioMolecular Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, The Gladstone Institutes, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, The Salk Institute, Numerate, Inc. and UC Irvine as part of its Early Translational IV Research awards. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

    Four UCLA Researchers Receive CIRM Early Translational Grants
    Four prominent researchers from UCLA’s Eli & Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research have received Early Translational research awards totaling approximately $13 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state stem cell agency. [University of California, Los Angeles] Press Release

     
    POLICY NEWS
    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)

    Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

     
    EVENTS
    NEW Chronic Pancreatitis Symposium 2014
    February 6-8, 2014
    Kiawah Island, United States

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

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Diseases (University of Rochester Medical Center)

    Postdoctoral Position – Mechanism of Pancreatic Beta Cell Proliferation (Joslin Diabetes Center/Harvard Medical School)

    Postdoctoral Position – Differentiation of Human Pancreatic Endocrine Precursor Cells to Beta-Cells (AstraZeneca)

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

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

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

    Senior Scientist – Pancreas Development (AstraZeneca)

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


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