DIABETES & PANCREATITIS High-Throughput Luminescent Reporter of Insulin Secretion for Discovering Regulators of Pancreatic Beta-Cell Function Researchers report a luminescent insulin secretion assay that enables large-scale investigations of beta-cell function, created by inserting Gaussia luciferase into the C-peptide portion of proinsulin. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Phosphorylation of Caveolin-1 on Tyrosine-14 Induced by ROS Enhances Palmitate-Induced Death of Beta-Pancreatic Cells Researchers tested whether the presence of caveolin-1 modulates free fatty acid-induced beta cell death by reexpressing this protein in MIN6 murine beta cells lacking caveolin-1. Incubation of MIN6 with palmitate, but not oleate, induced apoptotic cell death that was enhanced by the presence of caveolin-1. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract TRPM2 Mediated Intracellular Zn2+ Release Triggers Pancreatic Beta Cell Death Given Zn2+ is cytotoxic, scientists asked if transient receptor potential (melastatin)2 (TRPM2) channels can permeate sufficient Zn2+ to affect cell viability. To address this, they used the INS1 β-cell line, HEK-293 cells transfected with TRPM2 and pancreatic islets. [Biochem J] Abstract Cyclin C Stimulates Beta-Cell Proliferation in Rat and Human Pancreatic Beta-Cells Scientists hypothesized that cyclin C overexpression would induce beta-cell proliferation through G0 exit, thus being a potential therapeutic target to recover functional beta-cell mass. [Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab] Abstract PANCREATIC CANCER A Novel CDC25B Promoter Based Oncolytic Adenovirus Inhibited Growth of Orthotopic Human Pancreatic Tumors in Different Preclinical Models Scientists investigated the in vitro lytic effect and the in vivo therapeutic efficacy in combination with gemcitabine, on human pancreatic tumor xenografts orthotopically growing in nude mice, and in tumors growing in Syrian hamsters. AV25CDC exhibited a strong in vitro lytic effect on pancreatic cancer cells. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK3) Inhibition Induces Pro-Survival Autophagic Signals in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells Researchers show that GSK3 inhibition induces pro-survival signals through increased activity of the autophagy/lysosomal network. Data also revealed a contribution of GSK3 in the regulation of the master transcriptional regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis, transcription factor EB in pancreatic cancer cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article CD44 Regulates Pancreatic Cancer Invasion through MT1-MMP Using both in vitro and in vivo approaches, investigators demonstrated that CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on a subset of pancreatic cancer cells, is required for the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the activation of an invasive program in pancreatic cancer. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract Epigenetic Regulation of the lncRNA MEG3 and Its Target c-MET in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Scientists found that Meg3 has tumor suppressor activity in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cells because overexpression of Meg3 in MIN6 cells blocked cell proliferation and delayed cell cycle progression. [Mol Endocrinol] Abstract Identification of Cystatin SN as a Novel Biomarker for Pancreatic Cancer Scientists assessed whether cystatin SN is a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of malignant pancreatic neoplasms. Microarray analysis of mRNA extracted from pancreatic cancer and pancreatic normal tissues was performed. [Tumor Biol] Abstract Time and Concentration Dependency of P-gp, MRP1 and MRP5 Induction in Response to Gemcitabine Uptake in Capan-2 Pancreatic Cancer Cells Researchers investigated the time course and dose dependency of the induction of three efflux proteins, P-gp, MRP1 and MRP5, in response to gemcitabine exposure in Capan-2 pancreatic cancer cell line at transcriptional and translational levels. [Xenobiotica] Abstract |