Pancreatic Cell News Volume 6.21 | Jun 2 2015

GPR43 Potentiates Beta Cell Function in Obesity
In vitro treatment of isolated murine islets, human islets and Min6 cells with PA, a specific agonist of GPR43, increased intracellular IP3 and Ca²⁺ levels, and potentiated insulin secretion in a GPR43, Gαq, and phospholipase C dependent manner. [Diabetes] Abstract

Fibrin Supports Human Fetal Islet-Epithelial Cell Differentiation via p70^s6k and Promotes Vascular Formation during Transplantation
Researchers investigated how fibrin promotes human fetal pancreatic cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Fibrin-cultured human fetal pancreatic cells had significantly increased expression of PDX-1, glucagon, insulin, and VEGF-A, along with increased integrin αVβ3 and phosphorylated FAK and p70^s6k. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Lactisol Inhibits the Glucose-Sensing Receptor T1R3 Expressed in Mouse Pancreatic β-Cells
Investigators examined whether or not lactisole can be used as an inhibitor of the glucose-sensing receptor. In MIN6 cells, in a dose-dependent manner, lactisole inhibited insulin secretion induced by sweeteners, acesulfame-K, sucralose and glycyrrhizin. [J Endocrinol] Abstract

FTO Inhibits Insulin Secretion and Promotes NF-κB Activation through Positively Regulating ROS Production in Pancreatic β Cells
Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) is widely expressed in various tissues and presented with relative high expression in pancreas tissue, especially in endocrine pancreas. FTO overexpression in MIN6 cells achieved by lentivirus delivery significantly inhibits insulin secretion in the presence of glucose stimulus as well as KCl. [PLoS One] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

COSMC Knockdown Mediated Aberrant O-Glycosylation Promotes Oncogenic Properties in Pancreatic Cancer
Since the role of Tn antigen expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is insufficiently understood, scientists analyzed the impact of COSMC mediated Tn antigen expression in two human PDAC cell lines on cellular oncogenic properties. [Mol Cancer] Abstract

Decreased LKB1 Predicts Poor Prognosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
The authors characterized the expression pattern of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and assess the clinical significance of LKB1 expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. Protein expression of LKB1 was significantly reduced in six PDAC cell lines and downregulated in 31.3% of PDAC lesions compared to matched non-tumorous tissues, as determined by Western blot analysis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PTK6 Potentiates Gemcitabine-Induced Apoptosis by Prolonging S-Phase and Enhancing DNA Damage in Pancreatic Cancer
Gemcitabine treatment stimulated endogenous protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) overexpression in MIAPaCa2 and Panc1 cells. PTK6 gene-silencing increased cell survival after gemcitabine treatment and decreased apoptosis, while PTK6 overexpression decreased cell survival and increased apoptosis. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Inhibition of hTERT/Telomerase Contributes to the Antitumor Activity of Pristimerin in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells
Researchers investigated the role of telomerase in mediating the antitumor activity of pristimerin (PM) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) cells. PM inhibited cell proliferation, arrested cells in the G1 cell cycle phase and induced apoptosis in MiaPaCa-2 and Panc-1 PDA cells. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pancreatic cell research field.

Targovax Presented Safety Data and Immunological Results
Targovax presented safety data and immunological results from the ongoing Phase I/II clinical study CT-TG01-01, testing the therapeutic cancer vaccine TG01 in combination with gemcitabine in patients with resected pancreatic cancer. [Press release from Targovax discussing research presented at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago] Press Release | Poster

Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly Diabetes Alliance to Present Data from 35 Studies
The presentation of 35 abstracts will demonstrate the breadth and depth of the Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company Diabetes alliance portfolio. [Press release from Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH discussing research presented at the American Diabetes Association’s^® (ADA) 75^th Scientific Sessions, Boston] Press Release

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PharmaEngine Announces Filing New Drug Application (NDA) of MM-398 (PEP02) to Taiwan FDA as a Treatment for Post-Gemcitabine Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
PharmaEngine, Inc. announced that an NDA has been submitted to the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MM-398 in patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas who have been previously treated with gemcitabine-based therapy. [PharmaEngine, Inc.] Press Release

Halozyme Phase II Clinical Study of Investigational Drug PEGPH20 Shows Doubling of Progression-Free Survival and Improvement Trend in Overall Survival in High HA Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patients
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced interim findings from the ongoing Phase II clinical study of its investigational new drug PEGPH20 for the potential treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the pancreatic cell community.

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology Endoderm Lineages (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

PhD Position – Pancreatic Diseases (University Hospital Zurich)

Postdoctoral Position – Metabolic Fingerprinting of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (CEU San Pablo University)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Research Fellow – Systems Biology (University of Glasgow)

PhD Studentships – Diabetes Research (Diabetes UK)

Postdoctoral Position – Obesity and Diabetes Research (University of Iowa)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Mechanisms of Cell Death of Normal Tissue Stem Cells (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

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