Pancreatic Cell News Volume 6.45 | Nov 17 2015

GLP-1 Stimulates Insulin Secretion by PKC-Dependent TRPM4 and TRPM5 Activation
Investigators examined the mechanisms by which glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) stimulates insulin secretion in mouse and human islets. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

Transcription Factor Ets-1 Links Glucotoxicity to Pancreatic Beta Cell Dysfunction through Inhibiting PDX-1 Expression in Rodent Models
Primary islets and Min6 cells were exposed to high glucose and E26 oncogene homologue 1 (Ets-1) expression was measured. Recombinant adenovirus and transgenic mice were used to upregulate Ets-1 expression in beta cells in vitro and in vivo, and insulin secretion was assessed. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Retinoic Acid Ameliorates Pancreatic Fibrosis and Inhibits the Activation of Pancreatic Stellate Cells in Mice with Experimental Chronic Pancreatitis via Suppressing the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
The authors investigated the effects of retinoic acid on fibrosis in experimental chronic pancreatitis (CP) and cultured pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). CP was induced in mice by repetitive cerulein injection in vivo, and mouse PSCs were isolated and activated in vitro. [PLoS One] Full Article

Simvastatin Impairs Insulin Secretion by Multiple Mechanisms in MIN6 Cells
Researchers showed that simvastatin decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in mouse pancreatic MIN6 β-cells by 59% and 79% at glucose concentration of 5.5 mmol/l and 16.7 mmol/l, respectively, compared to control, whereas pravastatin did not impair insulin secretion. [PLoS One] Full Article

The Voltage-Gated Proton Channel Hv1 Is Expressed in Pancreatic Islet β-Cells and Regulates Insulin Secretion
Scientists showed for the first time that Hv1 is highly expressed in mouse and human pancreatic islet β-cells as well as β-cell lines. Imaging studies demonstrated that Hv1 resides in insulin-containing granules in β-cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

Dual Inhibition of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B and Mdm2 Enhance the Antitumor Effect of Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers hypothesized that nafamostat mesilate inhibited radiation-induced activation of NF-κB and improves therapeutic outcome. Nafamostat mesilate obviously down-regulated the expression levels of Mdm2 compared with control cells or irradiated cells. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Role of YAP and TAZ in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and in Stellate Cells Associated with Cancer and Chronic Pancreatitis
Using human tissues researchers showed that Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) expression is restricted to the centroacinar and ductal cells of normal pancreas, but is elevated in cancer cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1B1 as a Modulator of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
The authors examined expression and the role, if any, of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. [Pancreas] Abstract

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New Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory is Launched at UCSF
A $10 million gift from The Parker Foundation, founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist Sean Parker, will establish a new research laboratory within the Diabetes Center at UC San Francisco devoted to understanding autoimmunity, in the hopes of laying the groundwork for new treatments for diseases ranging from type 1 diabetes to multiple sclerosis to rheumatoid arthritis. [University of California San Francisco (UCSF)] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – Pancreatic Cancer (German Cancer Research Center)

NEW Faculty Positions – Regenerative Medicine for Organ Regeneration or Transplantation (The University of Texas Medical School At Houston)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Stem Cell Research (The University of Texas Medical School At Houston)

Postdoctoral Position – Type 2 Diabetes and Islet Biology (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Disease Gene Regulation (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Diabetes Genetics (University of Oxford)

Scientist – Preclinical Immunology (Kanyos Bio)

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetes (University of Geneva Medical School)

Senior Clinical Lecturer – Cancer & Inflammation (Queen Mary University of London)

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