Pancreatic Cell News Volume 7.17 | May 3 2016

Age-Dependent Pancreatic Gene Regulation Reveals Mechanisms Governing Human β Cell Function
The authors described a multimodal strategy for isolating pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cells from children and adults to identify age-dependent gene expression and chromatin changes on a genomic scale. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Extranuclear Actions of the Androgen Receptor Enhance Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in the Male
Investigators showed that male mice lacking androgen receptor in β cells exhibit decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, leading to glucose intolerance. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Transforming Growth Factor-β Limits Secretion of Lumican by Activated Stellate Cells within Primary Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Tumors
Lumican expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from 27 patients was determined by IHC and quantitatively analyzed for co-localization with pancreatic stellate cells (PSC). In vitro studies examined the molecular mechanisms of lumican transcription and secretion from PSC, and cell adhesion and migration assays examined the effect of lumican on PSC in a collagen-rich environment. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Sensitization to and Challenge with Gliadin Induce Pancreatitis and Extrapancreatic Inflammation in HLA-DQ8 Mice: An Animal Model of Type 1 Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Scientists aimed to establish a pathogenetic mechanism of pancreatitis in celiac disease and IgG4-related disease using gluten-sensitive human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ8 transgenic mice. [Gut Liver]
Abstract | Full Article

Peptide Binding Glucose Regulated Protein 78 Improves Type 1 Diabetes by Preventing Pancreatic β Cell Apoptosis
The authors examined the effects of peptide binding cell surface GRP78 to reduce the deleterious effects of diabetes induced by streptozotocin. They demonstrated the ability of the peptide to protect the pancreatic β cells from apoptosis. [Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

Abrogating Cholesterol Esterification Suppresses Growth and Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer
The authors report a significant role of cholesterol metabolism in cancer metastasis. By using label-free Raman spectromicroscopy, they found an aberrant accumulation of cholesteryl ester in human pancreatic cancer specimens and cell lines, mediated by acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase-1 enzyme. [Oncogene] Full Article

Micelle Mixtures for Coadministration of Gemcitabine and GDC-0449 to Treat Pancreatic Cancer
Investigators report the use of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-methyl-2-carboxyl-propylene carbonate)-graft-dodecanol copolymer for conjugating gemcitabine and encapsulating a Hedgehog inhibitor, vismodegib, into its hydrophobic core for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [Mol Pharm] Abstract

Low Dose Monoethyl Phthalate (MEP) Exposure Triggers Proliferation by Activating PDX-1 at 1.1B4 Human Pancreatic Beta Cells
Researchers studied the effects of MEP, the metabolite of diethyl phthalate, exposure on 1.1B4 human pancreatic beta cells at low doses. They showed that MEP treatment induced proliferation in 1.1B4 cells. [Food Chem Toxicol] Abstract

Transcriptome Analysis of Piperlongumine-Treated Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells Reveals Involvement of Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathways
Researchers aimed to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms for piperlongumine (PL) anticancer effects on human pancreatic cancer cells. RNA sequencing was used to identify the effects of PL on the transcriptome of MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells. [J Med Food] Abstract

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Dr. Gordon Weir, Co-Head of Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin, to Receive the Albert Renold Award for His Significant Impact as a Mentor from the American Diabetes Association
Gordon Weir, M.D., Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation Chair, Co-Head of Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has been selected as the recipient of the American Diabetes Association’s 2016 Albert Renold Award. [Joslin Diabetes Center] Press Release

Sanofi US Collaborates with Duke University and Massachusetts General Hospital on Big Data and Type 2 Diabetes
Sanofi US announced collaborations with the Duke Clinical Research Institute and, separately, with the Center for Assessment Technology and Continuous Health at Massachusetts General Hospital. The collaborations are designed to create new tools that will help predict how people living with type 2 diabetes adhere to their medication. [Sanofi US] Press Release

Echo Therapeutics Announces Significant Progress in Key Development Milestones
Echo Therapeutics, Inc. announced important advances in its next generation continuous glucose monitoring system and its progress toward commercialization in China. Important advancements were made in the NextGen sensor element, hydrogel and other key components of the company’s highly disruptive technology to the episodic, needle-based glucose monitoring business. [Echo Therapeutics] Press Release

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NEW Project Manager – Management of Chronic Disease (Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Girona)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pancreas Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (University of North Dakota)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Abnormal Growth, Childhood Obesity and Diabetes (University of Bergen)

Lecturer – Tumor Microenvironment and Pancreatic Cancer (Queen Mary, University of London)

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

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

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

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