Pancreatic Cell News Volume 7.13 | Apr 5 2016

Hypoxia Reduces ER-to-Golgi Protein Trafficking and Increases Cell Death by Inhibiting the Adaptive Unfolded Protein Response in Mouse Beta Cells
Researchers investigated whether or not hypoxia regulates the unfolded protein response (UPR) in beta cells and the role the adaptive UPR plays during hypoxic stress. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Preadipocyte Factor 1 Induces Pancreatic Ductal Cell Differentiation into Insulin-Producing Cells
Investigators showed that preadipocyte factor 1 induces insulin synthesis and secretion via two independent pathways. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Long-Term Exposure of Pancreatic Beta-Cells to Palmitate Results in SREBP-1C-Dependent Decreases in GLP-1 Receptor Signaling via CREB and AKT and Insulin Secretory Response
Exposure of murine islets, as well as of human and INS-1E beta-cells, to palmitate reduced the ability of exendin-4 to augment insulin mRNA levels, protein content, and release. In addition, palmitate blocked exendin-4-stimulated CREB and AKT phosphorylation, whereas phosphorylation of MEK-1/2 and ERK-1/2 was not altered. [Endocrinology] Abstract | Full Article

TCR Transgenic Mice Reveal the Impact of Type 1 Diabetes Loci on Early and Late Disease Checkpoints
The authors assessed the role of various non-major histocompatibility complex insulin-dependent diabetes diabetes-resistance loci, which have been validated in the non-transgenic setting, on autoimmune diabetes progression in the transgenic setting. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

Pancreatic β-Cell Dysfunction in Diet-Induced Obese Mice: Roles of AMP-Kinase, Protein Kinase Cε, Mitochondrial and Cholesterol Metabolism, and Alterations in Gene Expression
C57BL/6N mice were fed for 8 weeks with a normal chow diet or a high fat diet and stratified as low responders (LDR) and responders (HDR). Freshly isolated islets from ND, LDR and HDR mice were studied ex-vivo for mitochondrial metabolism, AMPK activity and signalling, the expression and activity of key enzymes of energy metabolism, cholesterol synthesis, and mRNA profiling. [PLoS One] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

Identification of Tumorigenic Cells and Therapeutic Targets in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Researchers profiled primary and metastatic tumors from an index patient and demonstrated that MET proto-oncogene activation is important for tumor growth in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor xenograft models. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

p120 Catenin Suppresses Basal Epithelial Cell Extrusion in Invasive Pancreatic Neoplasia
The authors identified molecular requirements for early cellular invasion using a premalignant mouse model of pancreatic cancer with conditional knockout of p120 catenin. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Suppression of STAT5b in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Leads to Attenuated Gemcitabine Chemoresistance, Adhesion and Invasion
The authors examined the expression and role of signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (STAT5) in human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Expressions of STAT5b mRNA and protein were detected in eight kinds of pancreatic cancer cells. [Oncol Rep] Full Article

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Saxenda^® (Liraglutide [rDNA Origin] injection) Demonstrated Significant Improvements in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors over Three Years Compared with Placebo
New data from the three-year part of the Phase IIIa SCALE™ Obesity and Pre-diabetes trial were presented. The three-year part of the trial data demonstrated that 160 weeks of treatment with Saxenda^® in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity resulted in significant improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors compared with placebo. [Press release from Novo Nordisk Inc. discussing research presented at the 98^th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Endocrine Society (ENDO), Boston] Press Release

New Procedure Could Improve Success Rate of Cell Transplant to Cure Type 1 Diabetes
New research suggests pretreating cells with a peptide hormone may improve the success rate of pancreatic islet cell transplants, a procedure that holds great promise for curing Type 1 diabetes. [Press release from the Endocrine Society (EurekAlert!) discussing research presented at the 98^th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Endocrine Society (ENDO), Boston] Press Release

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Intrexon Forms Collaboration to Develop Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes
Intrexon Corporation announced the formation of Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC, a joint venture with a select group of external investors led by White Rock Capital Partners, LP, to develop ActoBiotics^® based antigen-specific immunotherapy to treat type 1 diabetes in humans. [Intrexon Corporation] Press Release

VUMC and Celgene Corporation Enter into Research Agreement to Accelerate Development of Next-Generation Therapeutics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has entered into a strategic research agreement with Celgene Corporation. This collaboration will leverage BioVU, a DNA database linked to de-identified health information that includes 2.5 million clinical records and 215,000 genetic samples. [Vanderbilt University Medical Center] 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)

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

NEW PhD Studentship – Regulation of Metabolism (University of Wuerzburg)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes Induced Neural Tube Defects (UMB School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pancrease Preconditioning (Centre Européen d’Etude du Diabète)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pancreatic Zinc Transporter as Therapeutic Target (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)

Research Scientist – Various Fields (King Abdullah International Medical Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Pancreatic Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Master Studentship – Exercise and Diabetes (Swansea University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Pancreatic Cancer Biology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Surgical Oncology in Pancreatic Cancer (University of Nebraska Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Pancreatic Progenitors in Development (Johns Hopkins University Institute of Genetic Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Metabolism and Cancer (Monash University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis, Diabetes and Obesity (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Neural Mechanisms of Diabetes (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Faculty Position – Metabolic Disease Research (Lewis Katz School of Medicine)

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