Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.44 | Nov 25 2014

Pancreatic Beta Cells Are Highly Susceptible to Oxidative and ER Stress during the Development of Diabetes
In addition to studying islets isolated from non-obese diabetic mice, investigators analyzed homogenous cell populations of murine alpha and beta cell lines to understand the role and differential survival of these two predominant islet cell populations. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

Possible Contribution of Taurine to Distorted Glucagon Secretion in Intra-Islet Insulin Deficiency: A Metabolome Analysis Using a Novel α-Cell Model of Insulin-Deficient Diabetes
To investigate the metabolic traits that underlie the distortion of glucagon secretion under insulin deficient conditions, scientists generated an αTC1-6 cell line with stable knockdown of the insulin receptor, i.e., an in vitro α-cell model for insulin-deficient diabetes, which exhibits an abnormal glucagon response to glucose.
[PLoS One] Full Article

Nerve Growth Factor Neutralization Suppresses β-Cell Proliferation through Activin A and Betacellulin
Researchers investigated the effects of nerve growth factor neutralization on synthesis and secretion of activin A and betacellulin from primary β cells and the importance of these relations for β-cell proliferation. [Pancreas] Abstract

Lycopene Protects Pancreatic Acinar Cells against Severe Acute Pancreatitis by Abating the Oxidative Stress through JNK Pathway
The authors investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of lycopene on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in both in vivo and in vitro models. Utilizing a rat model, they found that lycopene administration protected against SAP, as indicated by the decreased levels of serum amylase and C-reaction protein. [Free Radic Res] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

STAT3 Induces Anoikis Resistance, Promotes Cell Invasion and Metastatic Potential in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Researchers demonstrate that significant proportion of pancreatic cancer cells resisted anoikis when grown under anchorage-independent conditions and the cells that resisted anoikis showed higher migratory and invasive characteristics than the cells that were cultured under anchorage dependent condition. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Anterior Gradient 2 Downregulation in a Subset of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Is a Prognostic Factor Indicative of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
To confer a more aggressive phenotype and induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, investigators co-cultured PDAC cell lines with primary-cultured pancreatic stellate cells and found that anterior gradient 2 was downregulated in co-cultured PDAC cells compared with PDAC monocultures. [Lab Invest] Abstract

miR-371-5p Facilitates Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation and Decreases Patient Survival
Scientists investigated the roles of miR-371-5p in pancreatic cancer and its association with the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. The in vitro and in vivo assays showed that overexpression of miR-371-5p resulted in cell proliferation and increased tumor growth, which was associated with inhibitor of growth 1 downregulation. [PLoS One] Full Article

Up-Regulation of UHRF1 by Oncogenic Ras Promoted the Growth, Migration, and Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1 (UHRF1) was shown to promote the growth, migration, and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. It was found that the expression of UHRF1 was significantly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer samples compared to their adjacent normal tissues.
[Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

PKM2 Gene Regulates the Behavior of Pancreatic Cancer Cells via Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways
The authors investigated the effect of the PKM2 gene on the proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of Panc-1 and Sw1990 pancreatic cancer cells via its interaction with the mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways. [Mol Med Rep] Abstract

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Nuvilex Announces Preliminary Data from Preclinical Study of Effects of Its Pancreatic Cancer Treatment on Ascites Fluid Formation
Nuvilex, Inc. announced that promising preliminary data has been released from the preclinical animal study on the effects of Nuvilex’s pancreatic cancer treatment on the accumulation of ascites fluid in tumor-bearing animals. [Nuvilex, Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Research Assistants – Diabetes & Metabolism (Garvan Institute of Medical Research)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Chromatin and Epigenetic Regulation (Van Andel Research Institute)

Head of Cellular and Molecular Therapies Laboratory (NHS Blood & Transplant)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Drug Delivery (University of Tartu)

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

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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