Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.20 | May 27 2014

Expression of IL-2 in β Cells by AAV8 Gene Transfer in Pre-Diabetic NOD Mice Prevents Diabetes through Activation of FoxP3-Positive Regulatory T Cells
Researchers evaluated the effects of double-stranded adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8)-mouse insulin promoter-mediated delivery of interleukin-2 (IL-2) to pancreatic β cells in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. [Gene Ther] Abstract

The Epigenetic Bivalency of Core Pancreatic β-Cell Transcription Factor Genes within Mouse Pluripotent Embryonic Stem Cells Is Not Affected by Knockdown of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, SUZ12
Epigenetic analysis of the Oct4, Utf1, Nanog and Sox2 (pluripotency) and Pdx1, Nkx6.1, Nkx2.2 and MafA (pancreatic β-cells) transcription factor genes in embryonic stem cells and a β-cell line showed the pluripotency genes were enriched for active and depleted of repressor modifications around the transcription start site in mouse embryonic stem cells, and this was reversed in MIN6 cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Sodium Arsenite Induces ROS-Dependent Autophagic Cell Death in Pancreatic β-Cells
The inhibitor of autophagosome formation, 3-methyladenine, protected cells against sodium arsenite cytotoxicity, and the autophagy stimulator rapamycin further decreased the cell viability of sodium arsenite-treated INS-1 cells. [Food Chem Toxicol] Abstract

Cinnamtannin D-1 Protects Pancreatic β-Cells from Palmitic Acid-Induced Apoptosis by Attenuating Oxidative Stress
Researchers unveiled the mechanisms of protecting pancreatic β-cells from palmitic acid-induced apoptosis by cinnamtannin D-1, one of the main A-type procyanidin oligomers in Cinnamomum tamala. [J Agric Food Chem] Abstract

Aqueous Extract of Unfermented Honeybush (Cyclopia maculata) Attenuates STZ-Induced Diabetes and β-Cell Cytotoxicity
Researchers investigated the ameliorative effect of pre-treatment with an aqueous extract of unfermented Cyclopia maculata on STZ-induced diabetes and pancreatic β-cell cytotoxicity in Wistar rats after demonstrating a protective effect in vitro in RIN-5F cells. [Planta Med] Abstract

Modified Si-Miao-San Ameliorates Pancreatic B Cell Dysfunction by Inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species-Associated Inflammation through AMP-Kinase Activation
Scientists observed the effect of modified Si-Miao-San on advanced glycation end products-induced pancreatic B cell dysfunction, as well as examining the underlying mechanisms. [Chin J Nat Med] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

PHLDA3 Is a Novel Tumor Suppressor of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Scientists demonstrate that PHLDA3 represses Akt activity and Akt-regulated biological processes in pancreatic endocrine tissues, and that PHLDA3-deficient mice develop islet hyperplasia. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Rasfonin, a Novel 2-Pyrone Derivative, Induces Ras-Mutated Panc-1 Pancreatic Tumor Cell Death in Nude Mice
Rasfonin is a novel 2-pyrone derivative reported to induce apoptosis in ras-dependent cells. In this study, its effects on ras-mutated pancreatic cancer cells were investigated in vitro and in vivo. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Tumor Cell-Derived MMP-3 Orchestrates Rac1b and Tissue Alterations that Promote Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Scientists showed using a large cohort of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) tissue biopsies specimens, both matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and Rac1b were expressed in PDA cells, that the expression levels of the two markers were highly correlated, and that the subcellular distribution of Rac1b in PDA was significantly associated with patient outcome. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Bortezomib Induces Protective Autophagy through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Cultured Pancreatic and Colorectal Cancer Cells
Scientists aimed to understand the potential resistance factor of bortezomib in cultured pancreatic and colorectal cancer cells. They observed that bortezomib-induced protective autophagy in cultured PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. [Cancer Chemother Pharmacol] Abstract

miR-335 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Pancreatic Cancer by Targeting OCT4
Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4)-positive and OCT4-negative pancreatic cells were isolated by flow cytometry, and it was found that OCT4-positive cells are enriched in transplanted pancreatic cancer cells compared with the primary ones and showed increasing proliferation and sphere formation. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

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Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Funds 31 New Research Proposals in FY 2014 with Continued Focus on Contributing to Cures for Debilitating Diseases and Conditions
The board of directors of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation approved the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission’s recommendation to fund 31 new proposals with the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund’s $10.4 million FY2014 budget. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Calcium Signaling (Brigham & Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School)

NEW Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Role of Calreticulin in TGF-Beta Signaling in the Kidney Proximal Tubule under Diabetic Conditions (University of Alabama)

Staff Scientist and Postdoctoral Positions – Beta Cell Biology and Diabetes Research (Sanford Research / USD)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Diabetes (Lund University Diabetes Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Pancreatic Cancer (CNIO – Spanish National Cancer Research Center)

Associate Academic Staff – Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

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

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

Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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

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