Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.42 | Nov 4 2014

Mutant Kras-Induced Expression of ICAM-1 in Pancreatic Acinar Cells Causes Attraction of Macrophages to Expedite the Formation of Precancerous Lesions
Scientists demonstrate that pancreatic acinar cells expressing mutant Kras can expedite their transformation to a duct-like phenotype by inducing local inflammation. [Cancer Discov] Abstract

Pancreatic Cell Tracing, Lineage Tagging and Targeted Genetic Manipulations in Multiple Cell Types Using Pancreatic Ductal Infusion of Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors and/or Cell-Tagging Dyes
Scientists report a technique that allows efficient delivery of dyes for cell tagging into the mouse pancreas through the duct system, and that also delivers viruses carrying transgenes or siRNA under a specific promoter. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

Hepatocyte Growth Factor Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Corrects β-Cell Mass in IRS2 Deficient Mice
β-cell proliferation was increased and death was decreased in transgenic (TG)/KO mice compared with KO mice. As a result, β-cell mass was significantly increased in TG/KO mice compared with KO mice reaching levels similar to wild-type mice. [Mol Endocrinol] Abstract

Regeneration of Insulin-Producing Pancreatic Cells Using a Volatile Bioactive Compound and Human Teeth
Researchers developed a novel protocol using hydrogen sulfide to enhance pancreatic differentiation from the CD117⁺ cell fraction of human tooth pulp. [J Breath Res] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

Pancreatic Cancer-Derived Exosomes Causes Paraneoplastic β-Cell Dysfunction
Researchers studied the interaction between β-cell adrenomedullin (AM) receptors and AM present in pancreatic cancer-exosomes. In addition, they studied the effect of AM on endoplasmic reticulum stress response genes and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species generation in β-cells. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

An Angiopoietin-Like Protein 2 Autocrine Signaling Promotes EMT during Pancreatic Ductal Carcinogenesis
Scientists demonstrated that the sequential activation of KRAS, expression of HER2 and silencing of p16/p14 are sufficient to progressively and significantly increase the secretion of angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL)2, and the expression of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2. Silencing the expression of ANGPTL2 reverted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and reduced migration in cell lines. [Oncotarget]
Full Article

The Notch Ligand Jagged2 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis Independent of Notch Signaling Activation
Scientists report that Jagged2 plays a critical role in promoting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Depletion of Jagged2, but not its homolog Jagged1, profoundly inhibited both migration and invasion without influencing cell proliferation. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Blocking Hedgehog Release from Pancreatic Cancer Cells Increases Paracrine Signaling Potency
Using coculture models in conjunction with a newly developed reporter system, researchers show that different members of the ADAM family of metalloproteases strongly contribute to the release of endogenous, bioactive Hedgehog from pancreatic cancer cells, but that this solubilization decreases the potency of cancer cells to signal to adjacent stromal cells in direct coculture models. [J Cell Sci] Abstract

TGFβ Signaling in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Researchers provide strong evidence that the activation of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells increased SMAD3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation to inhibit cell growth. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

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ViaCyte’s VC-01™ Investigational Stem Cell-Derived Islet Replacement Therapy Successfully Implanted into First Patient
ViaCyte, Inc. announced that the first patient in its Phase I/II study was successfully implanted with VC-01™, its embryonic stem cell-derived islet replacement product candidate being developed as a treatment for type 1 diabetes. [ViaCyte, Inc.] Press Release

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Astellas Announce Research Collaboration
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced a three-year collaboration to research and develop small molecule inhibitors of oncogenic K-Ras for the treatment of cancer. [Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] Press Release

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NEW PhD Studentship – Driving Cells Towards a Pancreatic Fate (University of Edinburgh)

NEW Research Associate – Pancreatic Cancer (Imperial College London)

Postdoctoral Position – Endothelial Dysfunction and Diabetes (Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar)

Associate or Full Professor – Pediatric Diabetes and Metabolic Disease (University of California San Diego)

Postdoctoral Fellowship Position – Obesity and Diabetes Pathogenesis (NIDDK / NIH)

Research Assistant – Diabetes/Metabolic Health (The Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences)

Full or Associate Professor – Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (University of Pennsylvania)

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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