DIABETES & PANCREATITIS Regulation of Inflammatory Phenotype in Macrophages by a Diabetes-Induced Long Non-Coding RNA Investigators used RNA-seq to profile the transcriptome of bone marrow macrophages isolated from diabetic db/db mice and identified 1648 differentially expressed genes compared to control db/+ mice. [Diabetes] Abstract GABA Promotes Human β-Cell Proliferation and Modulates Glucose Homeostasis γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) exerts protective and regenerative effects on mouse islet β-cells. However, in humans it is unknown whether it can increase β-cell mass and improve glucose homeostasis. To address this question, investigators transplanted a suboptimal mass of human islets into immunodeficient NOD-scid-gamma mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. [Diabetes] Abstract Evidence of Contribution of iPLA2β-Mediated Events During Islet β-Cell Apoptosis Due to Proinflammatory Cytokines Suggests a Role for iPLA2β in T1D Development In view of reports of elevated Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2β (iPLA2β) in type 1 diabetes, investigators examined whether iPLA2β participates in cytokine-mediated islet β-cell apoptosis. [Endocrinology] Abstract Possible Involvement of Toll-Like Receptor 7 in the Development of Type 1 Autoimmune Pancreatitis The authors studied nine cases of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis with ten cases of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis and three of the samples from non-tumorous lesion of neuroendocrine tumor as control subjects. They counted the number of Toll-like receptor-1 (TLR1)-11-positive cells immunohistochemically stained with anti-TLR1-11 antibodies. [J Gastroenterol] Abstract Pancreatic Insulin-Producing Cells Differentiated from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Correct Hyperglycemia in SCID/NOD Mice, an Animal Model of Diabetes Researchers generated pancreatic insulin-producing cells from two human embryonic stem cell lines, YT1 and YT2, using an optimized four-stage differentiation protocol in a chemically defined culture system. Then, about 5-7×106 differentiated cells were transplanted into the epididymal fat pad of SCID/NOD mice. [PLoS One] Full Article Aberrant Innate Immune Activation following Tissue Injury Impairs Pancreatic Regeneration Investigators used a combination of genetically modified mice, immunological blockade and cellular characterization to identify the immune cells that impact pancreatic regeneration in an in vivo model of pancreatitis. [PLoS One] Full Article Conversion of Human Pancreatic Acinar Cells toward a Ductal-Mesenchymal Phenotype and the Role of Transforming Growth Factor β and Activin Signaling After seven days in monolayer culture, human acinar cells coexpressed the mesenchymal marker vimentin and the ductal marker Sox9. However, when the human exocrine cells were cultured in suspension, epithelial-mesenchymal transition was not observed. [Pancreas] Abstract PANCREATIC CANCER RIG-I-Like Helicases Induce Immunogenic Cell Death of Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Sensitize Tumors toward Killing by CD8+ T Cells Scientists investigated immunogenic consequences of RIG-I-like helicases (RLH)-induced tumor cell death. Treatment of murine pancreatic cancer cell lines with RLH ligands induced production of type I IFN and proinflammatory cytokines. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract Anticancer Activity of HS-527, a Novel Inhibitor Targeting PI3-Kinase in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells Scientists synthesized HS-527, a new PI3-kinase inhibitor, and investigated not only its anticancer activity, but also its mechanism of action in pancreatic cancer cells. [Cancer Lett] Abstract MicroRNA-218 Inhibits Cell Invasion and Migration of Pancreatic Cancer via Regulating ROBO1 Researchers restored the expression of miRNA-218 in pancreatic cancer to clarify the function and potent downstream pathway of miRNA-218. The cell migration and invasion abilities were evaluated by migration assay and invasion assay respectively. [Cancer Biol Ther] Full Article |