Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.46 | Dec 9 2014

Reprogramming of Human Pancreatic Exocrine Cells to β-Like Cells
Rodent acinar cells exhibit a remarkable plasticity as they can transdifferentiate to duct-, hepatocyte- and islet β-like cells. Researchers evaluated whether exocrine cells from adult human pancreas can similarly respond to proendocrine stimuli. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Periostin Induces Pancreatic Regeneration
Injection of periostin directly into the pancreas stimulated proliferation of vimentin expressing cells within 24 hours and by three days a mesenchymal stroma was present containing proliferating duct-like cells expressing the progenitor markers Ngn3 and Pdx1. [Endocrinology] Abstract

Discovery of Novel Vitamin D-Regulated Proteins in INS-1 Cells; A Proteomic Approach
Researchers employed stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture in combination with LC-MS/MS to quantitatively assess the impact of the two vitamin D metabolites, 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ and 25-(OH)D₃, on global protein expression on a model rat β-cell line, insulinoma-derived INS-1 cells. [Diabetes Metab Res Rev] Abstract

Beneficial Effects of Tigerinin-1R on Glucose Homeostasis and Beta Cell Function in Mice with Diet-Induced Obesity-Diabetes
Researchers investigated the anti-diabetic effects of tigerinin-1R, an amphibian host defense peptide, in mice with diet-induced obesity-diabetes. Tigerinin-1R was resistant to in vitro degradation by plasma enzymes. [Biochimie] Abstract

Uncoupling Protein-2 Attenuates Palmitoleate Protection against the Cytotoxic Production of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species in INS-1E Insulinoma Cells
Scientists show that palmitate-induced reactive oxygen species are mostly mitochondrial: oxidation of MitoSOX, a mitochondria-targeted superoxide probe, is increased by palmitate, whilst oxidation of the equivalent non-targeted probe is unaffected. [Redox Biol] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

Gemcitabine Resistant Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines Acquire an Invasive Phenotype with Collateral Hypersensitivity to Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
To identify potential molecular targets in gemcitabine refractory pancreatic cancer, researchers developed a series of gemcitabine resistant cell lines. Initial drug exposure selected for an early resistant phenotype that was independent of drug metabolic pathways. [Cancer Biol Ther] Abstract

PBI-05204, a Supercritical CO₂ Extract of Nerium oleander, Inhibits Growth of Human Pancreatic Cancer via Targeting the PI3K/mTOR Pathway
Scientists report the antitumor efficacy of PBI-05204, a supercritical CO₂ extract of N. oleander containing oleandrin, in a human pancreatic cancer Panc-1 orthotopic model. [Invest New Drugs] Full Article

Pancreatic Cancer Cells Express CD44 Variant 9 and Multiple Drug Resistance Protein 1 during Mitosis
Researchers demonstrate that pancreatic cancer cells with an epithelial phenotype upregulate cell surface expression of CD44 variant 9, an important cancer stem cell marker, during the mitotic phases of the cell cycle. [Exp Mol Pathol] Abstract

Inhibition of 5-Lipoxygenase Triggers Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) was found to be overexpressed not only in pancreatic cancer cell lines but also in tissue samples of patients suffering from pancreatic adenocarcinoma. There was a close correlation between the tumor expression levels of 5-LOX mRNA and protein and the clinicopathological patient characteristics including lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Knockdown of GPR137 by RNAi Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth and Induces Apoptosis
Researchers knocked down GPR137 via a lentivirus system in two human pancreatic cancer cell lines BXPC-3 and PANC-1. Knockdown of GPR137 strongly inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation. [Biotechnol Appl Biochem] Abstract

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VAXIMM Reports Positive Follow-On Data from Oral Cancer Vaccine Trial
VAXIMM AG announced follow-on data from the first clinical trial of its investigational oral T-cell vaccine VXM01. Data of a trial extension of the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase I dose escalation study show that the safety profile to date is manageable, and indicate that VXM01 has a potential to trigger a strong targeted T cell-mediated immune response in pancreatic cancer patients. [VAXIMM AG] Press Release

Paul G. Allen to Give $100 Million to Create Cell Science Institute
Philanthropist and entrepreneur Paul G. Allen announced a commitment of $100 million to create the Allen Institute for Cell Science in Seattle. Founded to investigate and model the complex living machinery of cells, the nonprofit Allen Institute for Cell Science and its inaugural project, the Allen Cell Observatory, will accelerate disease research around the world by creating and sharing reagents, data and dynamic, predictive models of cells. [Allen Institute for Cell Science] Press Release

BIDMC Receives $100,000 to Support Pancreatic Cancer Research
The Institute for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) will benefit from a $100,000 grant from the Alliance of Families Fighting Pancreatic Cancer. The funding will support more than a dozen projects designed to empower patients undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, to advance quality of life and to promote the development of personalized treatment options. [Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Bioengineering (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

NEW Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Diabetes Research/Cellular Metabolism (Lund University)

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

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

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Drug Delivery (University of Tartu)

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)

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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