Pancreatic Cell News Volume 7.18 | May 10 2016

Generation of Stem Cell-Derived β-Cells from Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Investigators recently reported the scalable in vitro production of functional stem cell-derived β-cells (SC-β cells). Here they extend this approach to generate the first SC-β cells from type 1 diabetic patients. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Oxytocin Protects against Stress-Induced Cell Death in Murine Pancreatic β-Cells
Researchers report that oxytocin (Oxt) signaling attenuates the death of pancreatic beta cells in islets exposed to cytotoxic stresses. The protective effect of Oxt was diminished in islets isolated from oxytocin receptor knockout mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SP6616 as a New Kv2.1 Channel Inhibitor Efficiently Promotes β-Cell Survival Involving Both PKC/Erk1/2 and CaM/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways
Scientist showed that the small molecular compound, SP6616 was discovered to be a new voltage-gated potassium (Kv)2.1 inhibitor. It was effective in both promoting glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and protecting β cells from apoptosis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Acinar Phenotype Is Preserved in Human Exocrine Pancreas Cells Cultured at Low Temperature: Implications for Lineage-Tracing of β-Cell Neogenesis
The authors questioned whether human pancreatic acinar cell phenotype could be preserved in vitro by physico-chemical manipulations and whether this could be valuable in the study of β-cell neogenesis. They found that culture at low temperature resulted in the maintenance of morphological and molecular acinar cell characteristics. [Biosci Rep] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

ARHGEF15 Overexpression Worsens the Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma through Enhancing the Motility and Proliferative Activity of the Cancer Cells
The authors identified genes whose expressions are correlated with a poor prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients, and unraveled the mechanisms underlying the involvement of these genes in the development of the cancer. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

Interstitial Pressure in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Is Dominated by a Gel-Fluid Phase
By interrogating a variety of tissues, tumor types, and experimental model systems, researchers showed that a hyaluronan-dependent fluid phase contributes substantially to pressures in many solid tumors and has been largely unappreciated heretofore. [Biophys J] Abstract | Press Release

Transcriptomic and CRISPR/Cas9 Technologies Reveal FOXA2 as a Tumor Suppressor Gene in Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers used a systems approach by integrating gene and microRNA profiling analyses together with CRISPR/Cas9 technology, to identify novel transcription factors involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma pathogenesis. [Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol] Abstract

Procathepsin E Is Highly Abundant but Minimally Active in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumors
Investigators showed that cathepsin E expression in mouse pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors is increased by more than 400-fold when compared to healthy pancreatic tissue. Cathepsin E accumulates over the course of disease progression and accounts for more than 3% of the tumor protein in mice with end-stage disease. [Biol Chem] Abstract

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Dance Biopharm’s China Licensee, Harmony Biopharm, Enters into New Joint Venture with Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical, a Leading China Insulin Producer
Dance Biopharm Inc. announced that Harmony Biopharm Limited, Dance’s licensee for Dance 501 in Asia, has recently formed a joint venture with Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co. and Shanghai Dongbao Biological Pharmaceutical Co. The joint venture will focus on obtaining regulatory approval in China and, if approval is obtained, preparing for commercialization of Dance 501. [Dance Biopharm Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

NewLink Genetics Announces Results from Phase III IMPRESS Trial of Algenpantucel-L for Patients with Resected Pancreatic Cancer
NewLink Genetics Corporation announced results of its Phase III clinical trial for algenpantucel-L for patients with resected pancreatic cancer. The IMPRESS Phase III study of algenpantucel-L for patients with resected pancreatic cancer did not achieve its primary endpoint. [NewLink Genetics Corporation] Press Release

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NEW PhD Studentship – Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow(s) – Pancreatic Islet Biology (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Somatic Stem Cell Biology of Liver/Pancreas (The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich)

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

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

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

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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