Pancreatic Cell News Volume 4.40 | Oct 15 2013

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    Pancreatic Cell News 4.40 October 15, 2013

    Pancreatic Cell News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    DCLK1 Marks a Morphologically Distinct Subpopulation of Cells with Stem Cell Properties in Pre-Invasive Pancreatic Cancer
    Using mouse models and human pancreatic cancer cell lines, scientists investigated whether pre-invasive pancreatic neoplasia contains a subpopulation of cells with distinct morphologies and cancer stem cell-like properties. [Gastroenterology] Abstract
    Take the 'if' out of 'diff': Reduce variability when differentiating to endothelial cells

     
    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

    MicroRNA-26a Targets Ten Eleven Translocation Enzymes and Is Regulated during Pancreatic Cell Differentiation
    The molecular mechanisms that regulate Ten eleven translocations (TETs)/thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) expression and their role in cellular differentiation, including that of the pancreas, are not known. Scientists report that TET1/2/3 and TDG can be direct targets of microRNA-26a. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    Artificial Three-Dimensional Niches Deconstruct Pancreas Development In Vitro
    Researchers established three-dimensional culture conditions in Matrigel that enable the efficient expansion of dissociated mouse embryonic pancreatic progenitors. By manipulating the medium composition they generated either hollow spheres, which are mainly composed of pancreatic progenitors, or complex organoids that spontaneously undergo pancreatic morphogenesis and differentiation. [Development]
    Full Article

    Cocoa Flavonoid Epicatechin Protects Pancreatic Beta Cell Viability and Function against Oxidative Stress
    Researchers investigated the chemo-protective effect of epicatechin against oxidative stress induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide on Ins-1E pancreatic beta cells. [Mol Nutr Food Res] Abstract

    Insulin Secretion and Ca2+ Dynamics in β-Cells Are Regulated by PERK eIF2α Kinase in Concert with Calcineurin
    Scientists used a newly developed and highly specific inhibitor of EIF2AK3 (PERK) to determine the immediate effects of acute ablation of PERK activity. They found that inhibition of PERK in human and rodent β-cells causes a rapid inhibition of secretagogue-stimulated subcellular Ca2+ signaling and insulin secretion. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

    Knockdown of Prolactin Receptors in a Pancreatic Beta Cell Line: Effects on DNA Synthesis, Apoptosis, and Gene Expression
    Researchers treated rat insulinoma cells with a PRL receptor (PRLR) siRNA to determine if PRLR signaling is required for beta cell DNA synthesis and cell survival and to identify beta cell cycle genes whose expression depends upon lactogen action. [Endocrine] Abstract

    PANCREATIC CANCER

    MicroRNAs Co-operatively Inhibit a Network of Tumor Suppressor Genes to Promote Pancreatic Tumor Growth and Progression
    Scientists identified three microRNAs (miRNAs) that acted as cooperative repressors of a network of tumor suppressor genes that included PDCD4, BTG2, and NEDD4L. Inhibition of MIR21, MIR23A, and MIR27A had synergistic effects in reducing proliferation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells in culture and growth of xenograft tumors in mice. [Gastroenterology] Abstract

    Novel Methylation Biomarker Panel for the Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
    Researchers used a genome-wide pharmacologic transcriptome approach to identify novel cancer-specific DNA methylation alterations in pancreatic cancer cell lines. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

    Selective Disruption of Rb-Raf-1 Kinase Interaction Inhibits Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Growth Irrespective of Gemcitabine Sensitivity
    To define the anti-tumor effects of RRD-251, cell-cycle analyses, senescence, cell viability, cell migration, anchorage-independent growth, angiogenic tubule formation and invasion assays were performed on gemcitabine sensitive and resistant pancreatic cancer cells. RRD-251 prevented S-phase entry, induced senescence and apoptosis, and inhibited anchorage-independent growth and invasion. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

    The Loss of miR-26a-Mediated Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Cyclin E2 in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation and Decreased Patient Survival
    Researchers determined the roles of microRNA (miR)-26a in pancreatic cancer and its association with the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. miR-26a was expressed in the cytoplasm of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells, whereas its expression was significantly downregulated in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma tissues compared with that of adjacent benign pancreatic tissues. [PLoS One] Full Article

    Enhancement Effect of Dihydroartemisinin on Human γδ T Cell Proliferation and Killing Pancreatic Cancer Cells
    Researchers investigated the effect of dihydroartemisinin on human γδ T cell proliferation by MTT assay and killing activity against pancreatic cancer cells SW1990, BxPC-3 and PANC-1 by LDH release assay in vitro. [Int Immunopharmacol] Abstract

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

     
    REVIEWS
    Steroid Induced Diabetes: A Clinical and Molecular Approach to Understanding and Treatment
    The authors review the pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment principles unique to steroid-induced diabetes. [Diabetes Metab Res Rev] Abstract

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

     
    INDUSTRY NEWS
    Compugen Drug Candidate Demonstrates High Effectiveness in Type I Diabetes Animal Model
    Compugen Ltd. announced that CGEN-15001, an Fc fusion protein drug candidate derived from a novel immune checkpoint protein discovered by Compugen, has been shown to be highly efficient in preventing the development of disease in a well-accepted animal model of autoimmune type I diabetes, known also as juvenile diabetes. [Compugen Ltd.] Press Release

    Ligand Announces FDA Acceptance of Investigational New Drug Application for Glucagon Receptor Antagonist Program
    Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has opened an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has obtained FDA approval to initiate clinical development for its Glucagon Receptor Antagonist program with LGD-6972 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. [Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release

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    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 World Stem Cell Summit 2013
    December 4-6, 2013
    San Diego, United States

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

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Human and Mouse Stem Cell Biology, Pancreatic and Liver Specification and In Vitro Disease Modeling (Baylor College of Medicine)

    Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cellular Metabolism (Lund University)

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

    Postdoctoral Position – Cardiovascular Development and Diabetes (Cornell University)

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

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

    Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)


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