Pancreatic Cell News Volume 4.41 | Oct 22 2013

Differential Regulation of Mouse Pancreatic Islet Insulin Secretion and Smad Proteins by Activin Ligands
Scientists examined glucose homeostatic responses in mice lacking activin B and in pancreatic islets derived from these mutants. They compared the ability of activins A and B to regulate downstream signaling, ATP production and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in islets and beta cells. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Regulation of ABCA1 Protein Expression and Function in Hepatic and Pancreatic Islet Cells by miR-145
In the liver, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is crucial for high-density lipoprotein biogenesis, and in the pancreas ABCA1 can regulate insulin secretion. Researchers aimed to identify novel microRNAs (miR) that regulate ABCA1 expression in these tissues. [Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol] Abstract

A Role for Cytosolic Isocitrate Dehydrogenase as a Negative Regulator of Glucose Signaling for Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic ß-Cells
To determine whether flux through isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDHc) is positively or negatively linked to glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS), scientists performed RNAi knockdown experiments in ß-cells. Reduced IDHc expression in INS 832/13 cells and isolated rat islet ß-cells resulted in enhanced GIIS. [PLoS One] Full Article

Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Serine Protein Kinase Is Involved in Exendin-4-Induced Insulin Secretion in INS-1 Cells
Scientists investigated whether calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) is involved in the insulin secretagogue action induced by exendin-4 (Ex-4) in INS-1 cells. Knock-down of CASK significantly attenuated the Ex-4-enhanced insulin release, and they showed that Ex-4 could increase transcription of CASK mRNA and expression of CASK protein but did not change the cellular location of CASK. [Metabolism] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

HAb18G/CD147 Promotes pSTAT3-Mediated Pancreatic Cancer Development via CD44s
Highly expressed HAb18G/CD147 promoted cellular and clonogenic growth in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. CyPA, a ligand of CD147, stimulated STAT3 phosphorylation and its downstream genes cyclin D1/survivin through HAb18G/CD147 dependent mechanisms. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Re-Directing Apoptosis to Aponecrosis Induces Selective Cytotoxicity to Pancreatic Cancer Cells through Increased ROS, Decline in ATP Levels and Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel
Pancreatic cancer cell lines with mutated ras underwent an alternative form of cell death (aponecrosis) when treated concomitantly with clinically achievable concentrations of arsenic trioxide, ascorbic acid and disulfiram. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Triptolide-Induced Cell Death in Pancreatic Cancer Is Mediated by O-GlcNAc Modification of Transcription Factor Sp1
Researchers showed that triptolide induced downregulation of heat shock protein 70 expression is associated with decrease in glycosylation of the transcription factor Sp1. They further showed that triptolide inhibits glycosylation of Sp1 inhibiting hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, particularly the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Ellagic Acid and Embelin Affect Key Cellular Components of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, Cancer, and Stellate Cells
Scientists found that ellagic acid and embelin each dose-dependently increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in human pancreatic cancer cells, MIA PaCa-2 and HPAF-II cells, and in pancreatic stellate cells, which are progenitors of pancreatic cancer desmoplasia. [Nutr Cancer] Abstract

Effect of Combined Treatment with Recombinant Interleukin-2 and Allicin on Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combined treatment with recombinant interleukin-2 and allicin on pancreatic cancer and explore the potential immunological mechanism. [Mol Biol Rep] Abstract

Suppressed Expression of NDRG2 Correlates with Poor Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer
Treatment with trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, predominantly up-regulated N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) expression in NDRG2 low-expressing cell lines. In contrast, no increased NDRG2 expression was observed after treatment with 5-aza-2′ deoxycytidine, a DNA demethylating agent, and no hypermethylation was detected in either pancreatic cancer cell lines or surgically resected specimens by methylation specific PCR. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

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Elcelyx Therapeutics Announces Positive Results in Phase IIb Study of NewMet in Type 2 Diabetes
Elcelyx Therapeutics announced the completion of a 12-week Phase IIb study of NewMet™, a delayed-release formulation of metformin for the treatment of patients with Type 2 diabetes. [Elcelyx Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Bayer’s CONTOUR® NEXT LINK Cleared for Use with Medtronic’s New MiniMed® 530G with Enlite®
Bayer HealthCare announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared its CONTOUR® NEXT LINK blood glucose monitoring system as a component of Medtronic’s new MiniMed® 530G with Enlite®, a diabetes management device system with threshold suspend automation. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cell Metabolism, Diabetes and Fatty Liver Disease (Boston University)

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

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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