Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.30 | Aug 12 2014

Loss of Fbw7 Reprograms Adult Pancreatic Ductal Cells into α, δ, and β Cells
Researchers show that inactivation of the SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate recognition component Fbw7 induces pancreatic ductal cells to reprogram into α, δ, and β cells. [Cell Stem Cell]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Comparison Study of Immunohistochemical Staining for the Diagnosis of Type 1 Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Specimens of autoimmune pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were evaluated with immunohistochemical staining (IHC) for immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1, IgG4, and CD138. The number of IHC-positive cells was counted in three, five, and ten different high-power fields by selecting fields with the most numerous positive cells or by randomly selecting fields in the affected areas. [J Gastroenterol] Abstract

Calcium Current Inactivation Rather than Pool Depletion Explains Reduced Exocytotic Rate with Prolonged Stimulation in Insulin-Secreting INS-1 832/13 Cells
Researchers studied exocytosis, measured as increase in membrane capacitance, as a function of calcium entry in insulin secreting INS-1 832/13 cells using patch clamp and mixed-effects statistical analysis. [PLoS One] Full Article

Protective Effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon against Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis
Pancreatic acinar cells were isolated using a collagenase method, and then researchers investigated the acinar cell viability and cytokine productions. [Pancreas] Abstract

Silibinin Protects β Cells from Glucotoxicity through Regulation of the Insig-1/SREBP-1c Pathway
Scientists examined whether silibinin protects high glucose-induced β cell dysfunction through the insulin induced gene-1 (Insig-1)/sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) pathway. They demonstrate that 30.0 µM of silibinin significantly improved cell viability after rat insulinoma INS-1 cells were exposed to high glucose for 72 hours. [Int J Mol Med] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

A Targeting Ligand Enhances Infectivity and Cytotoxicity of an Oncolytic Adenovirus in Human Pancreatic Cancer Tissues
Researchers constructed a survivin promoter-regulated conditionally replicative adenovirus (CRAd) expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein gene, which displayed the identified targeting ligand (AdSur-SYE). The AdSur-SYE resulted in higher gene transduction efficiency and oncolytic potency than the untargeted CRAd in several pancreatic cancer cell lines. [J Control Release] Abstract

Profilin-1 Suppresses Tumorigenicity in Pancreatic Cancer through Regulation of the SIRT3-HIF1alpha Axis
Scientists investigated the exact role of profilin1 (Pfn1) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the underlying mechanisms. The effect of Pfn1 expression on cancer proliferation was assessed in cells by up- and down-regulation of Pfn1 in vitro and in vivo. [Mol Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Mediates a Reciprocal Signaling Pathway between Stellate Cells and Cancer Cells that Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Growth
Sphingosine kinase 1 was overexpressed in human pancreatic tissue, especially within tumor cells. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) in vitro and conditioned medium from S1P-stimulated PSCs, increased pancreatic cancer cell migration, and invasion, which was dependent on S1P2, c-abl kinase, and matrix metallopeptidase-9. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

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U.S. FDA Approves INVOKAMET™ (Canagliflozin/Metformin HCl) for the Treatment of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved INVOKAMET™, a fixed-dose therapy combining canagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride in a single tablet, for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. [Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

ViaCyte, Inc. Raises $5.4 Million in a Private Financing to Support Clinical Development of its Cell Therapy Product VC-01™ for Insulin-Dependent Diabetes
ViaCyte, Inc., a privately held regenerative medicine company developing a stem cell-derived islet replacement therapy for the treatment of diabetes, announced that it has completed a private equity financing transaction, providing the company with $5.4 million. [ViaCyte, Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Biomarkers in Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Metabolism / Diabetes / Cardiovascular Disease (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes and Inflammatory Diseases (University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Diabetes Research (Sanofi)

Principal Scientist – Diabetes Biology (Novo Nordisk China R&D Center)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells (Queen Mary University of London)

Professorship – Molecular Mechanisms of Diabetes Pathogenesis (University of Southern Denmark)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology Endoderm Lineages (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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