Pancreatic Cell News Volume 6.36 | Sep 15 2015

Identification of Four Mouse Diabetes Candidate Genes Altering β-Cell Proliferation
The authors showed that islets from diabetes-susceptible New Zealand Obese mice, in contrast to diabetes-resistant C57BL/6J-ob/ob mice, do not proliferate in response to an in vivo glucose challenge but lose their beta-cells. [PLoS Genet] Full Article

Interaction of Dendritic Cells and T Lymphocytes for the Therapeutic Effect of Dangguiliuhuang Decoction to Autoimmune Diabetes
Investigators studied potential anti-diabetic mechanisms of Dangguiliuhuang decoction (DGLHD) in a non-obese diabetic mouse model. DGLHD increased α1-antitrypsin, Bcl-2, and CyclinD1, and decreased Bax levels in pancreas, spleen, thymus, dendritic cells, and a NIT-1 cell line, all consistent with protecting and repairing islet β cell. [Sci Rep] Full Article

miR-101a and miR-30b Contribute to Inflammatory Cytokine-Mediated β-Cell Dysfunction
Researchers demonstrated that microRNA (miR)-101a and miR-30b are key players in cytokine-mediated β-cell dysfunction. They found that IL-1β induces an increase in miR-101a and miR-30b in MIN6 cells, and that the two miRNAs participate in β-cell dysfunction, including decreased insulin content, gene expression, and increased β-cell death. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Increased Androgen Levels in Rats Impair Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion through Disruption of Pancreatic Beta Cell Mitochondrial Function
Scientists elucidated potential mechanisms involved in beta cell alterations in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome. Glucose-induced insulin secretion was measured in islets isolated from DHT-treated and control rats. [J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

Cancer Stem Cell Marker Phenotypes Are Reversible and Functionally Homogeneous in a Preclinical Model of Pancreatic Cancer
Scientists isolated pancreatic cancer cells from multiple independent tumor lines and found that roughly 1 out of 87 cells exhibited tumorigenic capability. Three-dimensional spheroid cultures originating from KrasG12D/Trp53R172H/Pdx-1-Cr tumors did not enrich for cells with stem-like characteristics, and were not significantly more tumorigenic than cells cultured as monolayers. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine Enhances the Chemosensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Gemcitabine
Researchers investigated the role of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine played in the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine. They first treated MIAPaCa2 and MIAPaCa2/SPARC69 cells with different concentrations of gemcitabine for 24, 48, and 72 hours and selected the appropriated concentration for further study. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

Effectiveness of Plasma Treatment on Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Four pancreatic cancer cell lines were used and the antitumor effects of plasma-activated medium treatment were evaluated using a cell proliferation assay. To explore functional mechanisms, morphological change and caspase-3/7 activation in cells were also assessed. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

MicroRNA-29a Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Growth by Inhibiting Tristetraprolin
Researchers found that microRNA (miR)-29a was up regulated in pancreatic tumor tissues and cell lines and positively correlated with metastasis. Ectopic expression of miR-29a increased the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, through down regulating tristetraprolin. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Abstract | Full Article

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Researchers Studying whether Gout Drug Prevents Progression of Kidney Damage in Diabetes Patients
UT Southwestern Medical Center has joined an international clinical trial studying whether a drug traditionally used to treat gout can help prevent kidney damage in patients with type 1 diabetes. [UT Southwestern Medical Center] Press Release

Sanofi Reports Positive Top-Line Results in Second Pivotal LixiLan Phase III Study
Sanofi announced that the LixiLan-L Phase III clinical trial met its primary endpoint in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin glargine with or without metformin. [Sanofi] Press Release

PharmaCyte Biotech Begins Phase IIb Clinical Trial Push with Imaging Endpoints Contract for Radiological Imaging
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. announced that it has contracted with Imaging Endpoints to perform radiologic imaging that will be required for PharmaCyte Biotech’s Phase IIb clinical trial in pancreatic cancer. [PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.] Press Release

Nearly $10 Million to Be Invested to Support Pancreatic Cancer Research
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network announced it will invest nearly $9.7 million in research in 2016, representing a more than 40 percent increase over last year’s investment. The expanded grants program aims to advance progress toward patient benefit. Close to $6.8 million will be awarded through the organization’s competitive Research Grants Program. [Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

UChicago Medicine Earns Prestigious Pancreas Center Designation
The University of Chicago Medicine has been named a National Pancreas Foundation Center, one of only 30 facilities in the country to receive the prestigious designation from the health advocacy group. The National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) created the NPF Center designation in order to help patients find high-quality, multidisciplinary care. [University of Chicago Medicine] Press Release

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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)

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes and Metabolism (Johns Hopkins University)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Pancreatic Cancer (University of California, San Diego)

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes (Harvard Medical School)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes Research (Inserm)

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes Research (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Translational Research Program (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Pancreatic Cancer (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Position – Metabolic Diseases (ETH Zürich)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Development and Pathogenesis of Pancreatic Cancer (University College London)

Harry Eagle Scholar Awards for Postdoctoral Candidates (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

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