Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.35 | Sep 16 2014

Inhibition of Ca²⁺-Independent Phospholipase A₂ (iPLA₂β) Ameliorates Islet Infiltration and Incidence of Diabetes in NOD Mice
Scientists assessed the effects of iPLA₂β inhibition on diabetes development. Administration of FKGK18, a reversible iPLA₂β inhibitor, to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice significantly reduced diabetes incidence in association with reduced insulitis, reflected by reductions in CD4⁺ T-cells and B-cells, improved glucose homeostasis, higher circulating insulin, and β-cell preservation. [Diabetes] Abstract

p21^WAF1/Cip1 Limits Senescence and Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia Formation during Pancreatitis
Scientists investigated whether p21 down-regulation is implicated in controlling the early events of acinar cell trans-differentiation and acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) formation. They found that p21 was strongly up-regulated in wild type acinar cells during pancreatitis while absent in ADM areas, suggesting that p21 down-regulation is associated with ADM formation. [J Pathol] Abstract

Autocrine Activation of P2Y1 Receptors Couples Ca²⁺ Influx to Ca²⁺ Release in Human Pancreatic Beta Cells
Investigators examined the effects of purinergic agonists and antagonists on membrane potential, membrane currents, intracellular Ca²⁺ and insulin secretion in human beta cells. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Novel Role for Matricellular Proteins in the Regulation of Islet β Cell Survival: The Effect of SPARC on Survival, Proliferation and Signaling
Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular protein that is important for the regulation of cell growth and adhesion. Researchers investigated the role of SPARC in the regulation of β cell growth and survival. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

Pancreatic Cancer-Specific Cell Death Induced In Vivo by Cytoplasmic-Delivered Polyinosine-Polycytidylic Acid
Researchers investigated the potential therapeutic activity of a formulation of polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (pIC) with polyethylenimine ([pIC]PEI) in PDAC and investigated its mechanism of action. [pIC]PEI stimulated apoptosis in PDAC cells without affecting normal pancreatic epithelial cells. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Glucagon-Like-Peptide-1 Receptor Expression in Normal and Diseased Human Thyroid and Pancreas
221 human thyroid and pancreas samples were analyzed for glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) immunohistochemistry and compared with quantitative in vitro GLP1R autoradiography. All ductal pancreatic carcinomas are GLP1R negative, whereas 6/20 PanIN 1/2 and 0/12 PanIN 3 express GLP1R. [Mod Pathol] Abstract

Elongation Factor-2 Kinase Regulates TG2/β1 Integrin/Src/uPAR Pathway and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Mediating Pancreatic Cancer Cell Invasion
Researchers investigated the role of eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF-2K) in cellular invasion and found that down-regulation of eEF-2K by siRNA or rottlerin displays impairment of pancreatic cancer cell invasion/migration with significant decreases in the expression of tissue transglutaminase, the multifunctional enzyme implicated in regulation of cell attachment, motility and survival. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

SUMO-Specific Protease 1 Regulates Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Targeting MMP-9
Investigators show that sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) was upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Knockdown of SENP1 by SENP1-siRNA inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, suggesting that SENP1 plays an important role in PDAC progression and metastasis. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

GRP78 Promotes the Invasion of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by FAK and JNK
To investigate the effect of glucose-regulated protein 78 (Grp78) on the invasion of pancreatic cancer, researchers used western blot and Transwell assay. They found Grp78 is expressed at lower levels in capan-2 and higher expressed in MiaPaCa-2 cells, and Grp78 expression levels were correlated with the invasion potentials of tumor cells. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

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ViaCyte, Inc. Awarded $16.6 Million Accelerated Development Pathway Grant from CIRM to Expand Clinical Development of its VC-01™ Diabetes Therapy Candidate
ViaCyte, Inc. announced that it has been selected to receive a $16.6 million Accelerated Development Pathway Award from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). [ViaCyte, Inc.] Press Release

Beta-O2 Receives Grant from JDRF to Advance Clinical Development of the ßAir Bio-Artificial Pancreas as a Potential Cure for Type 1 Diabetes
Beta-O2 announced today that it has received a $500,000 grant from JDRF. The grant will be used to help fund a $1 million pilot human study of Beta-O2’s ßAir bio-artificial pancreas, in development as a treatment and potential cure for type 1 diabetes. [Beta-O2 Technologies Ltd. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

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Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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NEW Research Assistant/Laboratory Manager – Differentiation of Pancreatic Insulin-Producing Beta-Cells (Medical Research Council)

Postdoctoral Position – Role of p38MAPK in the Development of Obesity and Obesity-Induced Diseases (Spanish National Cardiovascular Research Center [CNIC])

Research Officer / Postdoctoral Fellow – Beta Cell Regeneration (Garvan Institute of Medical Research)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer (Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Trainee – Pancreatic Cancer (UT Southwestern Medical 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)

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

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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