Pancreatic Cell News Volume 4.39 | Oct 8 2013

Soluble Factors Secreted by T-Cells Promote β-Cell Proliferation
Researchers report that islets exhibiting insulitis manifested proliferation of β-cells which positively correlated with the extent of lymphocyte infiltration. [Diabetes] Abstract | Press Release

A Smad Signaling Network Regulates Islet Cell Proliferation
Recently, beta cell de-differentiation has been shown to be an important contributory mechanism to beta cell failure. Here scientists tie together these two pathways by showing that a network of intracellular TGF-beta regulators, smads 7, 2, and 3 control beta cell proliferation after beta cell loss, and specifically smad7 is necessary for that beta cell proliferation. [Diabetes] Abstract

Necro-Inflammatory Response of Pancreatic Acinar Cells in the Pathogenesis of Acute Alcoholic Pancreatitis
Alcohol enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNFα expression, whereas blockade of LPS signaling diminished TNFα production in vitro, indicating that the response of pancreatic acinar cells to LPS is similar to that of immune cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

The PARK2 Gene Is Involved in the Maintenance of Pancreatic β-Cell Functions Related to Insulin Production and Secretion
Downregulation of the Park2 gene in rat INS-1 β-cells resulted in a significant decrease in the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, intracellular insulin gene expression, and intracellular ATP level. [Mol Cell Endocrinol] Abstract

Specific Transduction and Labeling of Pancreatic Ducts by Targeted Recombinant Viral Infusion into Mouse Pancreatic Ducts
Researchers achieved a high pancreatic duct labeling efficiency using a recombinant adeno-associated virus with a duct-specific sox9 promoter infused into the mouse common biliary/pancreatic duct. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Microbead-Based Biomimetic Synthetic Neighbors Enhance Survival and Function of Rat Pancreatic β-Cells
Researchers obtained sustained maintenance of β-cell function in vitro enhanced cell viability from the few days usually observed in 2D culture to periods exceeding three weeks, with enhanced β-cell stability and insulin production. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

MicroRNA-10b Enhances Pancreatic Cancer Cell Invasion by Suppressing TIP30 Expression and Promoting EGF and TGF-β Actions
Scientists determined that plasma microRNA-10b (miR-10b) levels are significantly increased in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients by comparison with normal controls. By gene profiling, they identified potential targets downregulated by miR-10b, including Tat-interacting protein 30 (TIP30). [Oncogene]
Full Article

Targeting and Cytotoxicity of SapC-DOPS Nanovesicles in Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers observed that nanovesicles selectively killed human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro by inducing apoptotic death, whereas untransformed cells remained unaffected. This in vitro cytotoxic effect correlated to the surface exposure level of phosphatidylserine on the tumor cells. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

HOXB7 mRNA Is Overexpressed in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas and Its Knockdown Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis
In the present study, the effects arising from the knockdown of HOXB7 homeobox gene (HOXB7) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines was investigated. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Knockdown of RON Receptor Kinase Delays but Does Not Prevent Tumor Progression while Enhancing HGF/MET Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines
The role of RON (receptor originated from nantes) in tumor progression was investigated in context with MET expression and activity. RON and MET expressions were not detected in an immortalized normal human pancreas cell line, but were co-expressed in five of seven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

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

From our sponsor:
Interested in assays for human mammary stem and progenitor cells? Request your free wallchart.

iCareBook for Pancreatic Cancer iPad App
Created by the APP team from Johns Hopkins, the Johns Hopkins iCareBook for Pancreatic Cancer is an educational guide for patients, family members and friends facing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. [Johns Hopkins Medicine] Press Release

WorldOne and Joslin Diabetes Center to Launch Diabetes HUB
WorldOne and Joslin Diabetes Center announced the upcoming launch of the Diabetes HUB, designed to inform and advance the quality and efficiency of diabetes care. [WorldOne] Press Release

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)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Progression (University of South Alabama)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardiovascular Development and Diabetes (Cornell University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Molecular Mechanisms of Innate Immunity and Inflammation (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Pancreatic Cancer (UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas)

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)

Faculty Position – Department of Cellular & Structural Biology (The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)

Scientist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Research Technologist – Mesenchymal Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Culture Media & Matrices (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Quality Control Analyst – Media (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.