Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.10 | Mar 18 2014

RFamide Peptides 43RFa and 26RFa Both Promote Survival of Pancreatic ß-Cells and Human Pancreatic Islets but Exert Opposite Effects on Insulin Secretion
Researchers investigated the effects of 43RFa and 26RFa on survival and apoptosis of pancreatic ß-cells and human pancreatic islets. [Diabetes] Abstract

The Proapoptotic BH3-Only Proteins Bim and Puma Are Downstream of Endoplasmic Reticulum and Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress in Pancreatic Islets in Response to Glucotoxicity
Researchers demonstrated that high concentrations of glucose induce endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress, which causes cell death mediated by Bim and Puma. They observed significantly higher Bim and Puma mRNA in islets of human donors with type 2 diabetes. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Inhibition of Pancreatic Beta-Cell CaMKII Reduces Glucose-Stimulated Calcium Influx and Insulin Secretion, Impairing Glucose Tolerance
Investigators report that mice with conditional inhibition of CaMKII in ß-cells show significantly impaired glucose tolerance due to decreased glucose stimulated insulin secretion. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Targeting SUR1/Abcc8-Type Neuroendocrine K_ATP Channels in Pancreatic Islet Cells
Abcc8/Sur1 flox mice were generated and tested by crossing with glucagon-cre mice to target a-cell K_ATP channels selectively. [PLoS One] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

CHD7 Expression Predicts Survival Outcomes in Patients with Resected Pancreatic Cancer
Using a synthetic lethal screen in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells, scientists identified 93 genes including 55 genes linked to DNA damage responses that demonstrated gemcitabine sensitization when silenced, including CHD7 which functions in chromatin remodeling. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Attenuation of Hedgehog Acyltransferase-Catalyzed Sonic Hedgehog Palmitoylation Causes Reduced Signaling, Proliferation and Invasiveness of Human Carcinoma Cells
Hedgehog acyltransferase knockdown inhibited Hedgehog autocrine and juxtacrine signaling, and inhibited pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell growth and invasiveness in vitro. [PLoS One] Abstract | Press Release

SMAD4 Loss Triggers the Phenotypic Changes of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells
Researchers report that re-expression of SMAD4 in SMAD4-null pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells does not affect tumor cell growth in vitro or in vivo, but significantly enhances cells migration in vitro. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

S100P Antibody-Mediated Therapy as a New Promising Strategy for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Scientists showed that extracellular S100P stimulates pancreatic carcinoma BxPC3 cell line by promoting cell proliferation. They also demonstrated that S100P induces, in this cell line, the phosphorylation of I?Ba and the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase 9. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

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OncoSil Medical Commences Pivotal Trial for OncoSil^TM in Pancreatic Cancer
OncoSil Medical Limited announced that it has commenced its Pivotal Clinical Trial for its lead product candidate, the OncoSil™ localized radiation therapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. [OncoSil Medical Limited] Press Release

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NEW Senior Research Coordinator (Joslin Diabetes Center)

Diabetes Researchers – Pathway to Stop Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)

Postdoc Researcher – Diabetes (Indiana University School of Medicine)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

PhD Studentship – Molecular Drug Resistance (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes (Université de Sherbrooke)

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes Research (Tel Aviv University)

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Associate – Diabetes, Metabolism and Molecular Endocrinology (University of Illinois)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer and Diabetes (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine/University Health Network)

Postdoctoral Associate Specialist – Human Pancreatic Stem Cell Research (The Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences)

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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