Pancreatic Cell News Volume 7.36 | Sep 13 2016

TOP STORY

A Minimized Human Insulin-Receptor-Binding Motif Revealed in a Conus geographus Venom Insulin

Scientists found that Conus geographus G1 (Con-Ins G1) is monomeric, strongly binds the human insulin receptor and activates receptor signaling. Con-Ins G1 thus is a naturally occurring B-chain-minimized mimetic of human insulin. [Nat Struct Mol Biol] Abstract | Press Release

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(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Activation Augments the β Cell Unfolded Protein Response and Rescues Early Glycemic Deterioration and β Cell Death in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice

Thiazolidinediones are insulin sensitizers that activate the nuclear receptor PPAR-γ and have been shown to partially ameliorate autoimmune type 1 diabetes in humans and non-obese diabetic mice. Investigators hypothesized that thiazolidinediones reduce β cell stress and death independently of insulin sensitivity. [J Biol Chem] Abstract

Serum Amylase Levels in Relation to Islet β Cell Function in Patients with Early Type 2 Diabetes

Investigators hypothesized that low serum amylase levels may be associated with impaired islet β cell function in type 2 diabetes. They investigated the relationship between the serum amylase levels and islet β cell function in patients with early type 2 diabetes. [PLoS One] Full Article

Angiopoetin-2 Signals Do Not Mediate the Hypervascularization of Islets in Type 2 Diabetes

Investigators found Islet hypervascularization occurs in type 2 diabetes. A balanced expression of the Angiopoietin1/Angiopoietin2 (Ang1/Ang2) system is important for islet physiology. Ang-2 prevents β-cell mass and islet vascular adaptation in response to high fat diet feeding with no major influence on glucose homeostasis. [PloS One] Full Article

Is Beta-Cell Aging Involved in the Pathogenesis of Diabetes?

Beta-cells in different stages have different function and capacity of proliferation, regenerative and apoptosis. Researchers conducted a study to investigate whether there are changes in beta-cell phonotype in the development of diabetes to identify potential beta cell targets for preventing the progression of diabetes. [J Diabetes] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

ATRA Mechanically Reprograms Pancreatic Stellate Cells to Suppress Matrix Remodeling and Inhibit Cancer Cell Invasion

Researchers report that ATRA, an active metabolite of vitamin A, restores mechanical quiescence in pancreatic stellate cells via a mechanism involving a retinoic acid receptor beta-dependent downregulation of actomyosin contractility. They show that ATRA reduces the ability of pancreatic stellate cells to generate high traction forces and adapt to extracellular mechanical cues, as well as suppresses force-mediated extracellular matrix remodeling to inhibit local cancer cell invasion in 3D organotypic models. [Nat Commun] Full Article

RN1, a Novel Galectin-3 Inhibitor, Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth In Vitro and In Vivo via Blocking Galectin-3 Associated Signaling Pathways

The authors demonstrate that a polysaccharide, RN1, purified from the flower of Panax notoginseng binds to galectin-3 and suppresses its expression. In addition, RN1 markedly inhibits pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells growth in vitro, in vivo and in patient-derived xenografts. [Oncogene] Abstract

WEE1 Inhibition in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Is Dependent on DNA Repair Status in a Context Dependent Manner

Researchers evaluated the efficacy of MK-1775 alone or in combination with DNA damaging agents in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines that are either DNA repair proficient or deficient. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Paeoniflorin Potentiates the Inhibitory Effects of Erlotinib in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines by Reducing ErbB3 Phosphorylation

Investigators showed that PF enhances the effect of erlotinib in ErbB3-expressing pancreatic cancer cells by directly suppressing ErbB3 activation, and PF in combination with erlotinib is much more effective as an antitumor agent compared with either agent alone. [Sci Rep] Full Article

TGF-β-Induced Stromal CYR61 Promotes Resistance to Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma through Down-Regulation of the Nucleoside Transporters hENT1 and hCNT3

Scientists report that the matricellular protein cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) negatively regulates the nucleoside transporters hENT1 and hCNT3. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of CYR61 increased expression of hENT1 and hCNT3, increased cellular uptake of gemcitabine, and sensitized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

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The Role of the p53 Tumor Suppressor in Metabolism and Diabetes

The authors present a review of the literature on the role of p53 in metabolism, diabetes, pancreatic function, glucose homeostasis, and insulin resistance. [J Endocrinol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pancreatic cell research field.

Propanc Files Application for Orphan Medicinal Product Designation in the EU for Pancreatic Cancer

Propanc Health Group Corporation announced it has submitted an application for Orphan Medicinal Product Designation to the European Medicines Agency for PRP, a solution for intravenous administration of pancreatic proenzymes trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen. [Propanc Health Group Corporation] Press Release

Lexicon Reports Positive Top-Line Results in Pivital Phase III Study for Sotagliflozin in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the pivotal in Tandem1 Phase III clinical trial of sotagliflozin met its primary endpoint, showing a statistically significant reduction in A1C at 24 weeks in patients with type 1 diabetes on a background of optimized insulin. [Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Why Scientists Must Share Their Research Code

Many scientists worry over the reproducibility of wet-lab experiments, but data scientist Victoria Stodden’s focus is on how to validate computational research: analyses that can involve thousands of lines of code and complex data sets. [Nature News] Editorial

Workshop on Ethics of Monkey Research Earns Cheers and Boos

Depending on whom you ask, the U.S. government workshop on the state of nonhuman primate research was either a raging success or a complete fiasco. The event, held at the National Institutes of Health brought together dozens of scientists, veterinarians, and bioethicists to discuss how research on monkeys and related animals is contributing to human medicine and to review the welfare policies that surround this work. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Announcement: Where Are the Data?

As the research community embraces data sharing, academic journals can do their bit to help. Starting this month, all research papers accepted for publication in Nature and an initial 12 other Nature titles will be required to include information on whether and how others can access the underlying data. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cell Culture & Downstream World Congress 2017
February 21-22, 2017
Munich, Germany

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

NEW Chair of Medical Biology (Masaryk University)

NEW Customer Representative – Diabetes (Merck)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Research (Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute)

Assistant Scientist – Diabetes Research (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pancreatic Biology (Toronto General Research Institute & McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine)

Vice President – Legacy Research Institute (Legacy Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Epigenetic Pathways Driving Pancreatic Cancer (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pancreatic Stem Cell Biology (University of Southern California)

Research Histotechnologist I (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Molecular and Cellular Control of Pancreatic Islet Function (Université Catholique de Louvain)

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