Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.12 | Apr 1 2014

Increased Glucose Metabolism and Glycerolipid Formation by Fatty Acids and GPR40 Underlies the Fatty Acid Potentiation of Insulin Secretion
Researchers assessed the effect of fatty acids on the dynamics of the metabolome in INS-1 cells following exposure to U-[13C]glucose to assess flux through metabolic pathways. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote the Repair of Islets from Diabetic Mice through Paracrine Actions
Scientists tested the cytoprotective effect of conditioned medium from cultured mesenchymal stem cells on isolated islets exposed to STZ in vitro and on mice islets after the experimental induction of diabetes in vivo. [Mol Cell Endocrinol] Abstract

Increased DNase I Activity in Diabetes Might Be Associated with Injury of Pancreas
With blood samples from a previous study related to type 2 diabetes, researchers examined the DNase I activity in the serum of these patients and the role of DNase I in the injury of pancreas was further investigated in rats and INS-1 cells. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

The Furan Fatty Acid Metabolite CMPF Is Elevated in Diabetes and Induces ß Cell Dysfunction
The authors showed that 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoic acid (CMPF) acts directly on ß cells, causing impaired mitochondrial function, decreasing glucose-induced ATP accumulation, and inducing oxidative stress, resulting in dysregulation of key transcription factors and ultimately reduced insulin biosynthesis. [Cell Metab] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

Differential Activity of GSK-3 Isoforms Regulates NF-?B and TRAIL- or TNFa Induced Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Scientists report that TRAIL-induced apoptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines is enhanced by pharmacological inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) or by short hairpin RNA-mediated depletion of either GSK-3a or GSK-3ß. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Inflammation and Pancreatic Cancer: Molecular and Functional Interactions between S100A8, S100A9, NT-S100A8 and TGFbeta1
In order to gain further insight on the crosstalk between pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and stromal cells, researchers investigated interactions occurring between TGFbeta1 and the inflammatory proteins S100A8, S100A9 and NT-S100A8, a PDAC-associated S100A8 derived peptide, in cell signaling, intracellular calcium and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. [Cell Commun Signal] Abstract | Full Article

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF-1R) as a Target of MiR-497 and Plasma IGF-1R Levels Associated with TNM Stage of Pancreatic Cancer
Upregulation of miR-497 in BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cell lines inhibited proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, re-sensitized cells to gemcitabine and suppressed insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) and p-AKT expression through direct downregulation of IGF-1R protein expression. [PLoS One] Full Article

Combination of Dasatinib and Gemcitabine Reduces the ALDH1A1 Expression and the Proliferation of Gemcitabine-Resistant Pancreatic Cancer MIA PaCa-2 Cells
Scientists investigated the effectiveness of dasatinib, an SRC inhibitor, and gemcitabine combination to inhibit the survivals of parental and gemcitabine-resistant cell lines. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Upregulation of the Splice Variant MUC4/Y in the Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line MIA PaCa-2 Potentiates Proliferation and Suppresses Apoptosis: New Insight into the Presence of the Transcript Variant of MUC4
Scientists investigated the specific function of MUC4/Y. The pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2 with low MUC4/Y expression was used to establish a stable cell model of MUC4/Y upregulation using a lentivirus vector system. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

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

Oramed Pharmaceuticals Announces First Patient Enrolled in a US Phase IIa Trial for ORMD-0801 in Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes
Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its U.S. Phase IIa trial for its orally ingestible insulin capsule, ORMD-0801, in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. [Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

City of Hope Expands Basic and Translational Diabetes Research with $30 Million Investment
City of Hope has announced a new $30 million investment that will expand its basic and translational research efforts to provide new treatments for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. [City of Hope] Press Release

From our sponsor:
Looking for ALDH⁺ cancer stem cells? Watch a video to see how ALDEFLUOR^TM can help.

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.

NEW Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes (TAMHSC)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Senior Research Coordinator (Joslin Diabetes Center)

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

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

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes (Université de Sherbrooke)

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)

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.)

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.