Pancreatic Cell News Volume 7.44 | Nov 8 2016

TOP STORY

Neurotrophin Signaling Is Required for Glucose-Induced Insulin Secretion

Investigators uncovered a regulatory mechanism by which glucose recruits vascular-derived neurotrophins to control insulin secretion. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

PAR2 Regulates Regeneration, Transdifferentiation, and Death

Scientists used mice carrying a mutated, inactivated protease-activated receptor (PAR2) and pharmacological activator to show that PAR2 was necessary and sufficient for islet cell transdifferentiation induction in the setting of β-cell deficiency. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

A Presenilin/Notch1 Pathway Regulated by miR-375, miR-30a, and miR-34a Mediates Glucotoxicity Induced-Pancreatic Beta Cell Apoptosis

Researchers investigated the role of Notch1 activation in glucotoxicity-induced beta cell impairment and the contributions of miR-375, miR-30a, and miR-34a to this pathway. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Over-Expression of Insulin-Response Element Binding Protein-1 in Mouse Pancreatic Islets Increases Expression of RACK1 and TCTP; Beta Cell Markers of High Glucose Sensitivity

Scientists compared the proteome of islet lysates from insulin-response element binding protein 1 C-terminal domain transgenic mice against the lysates of islets obtained from the pancreati of the background mouse strain. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Bile Acids Induce Necrosis in Pancreatic Stellate Cells Dependent on Calcium Entry and Sodium-Driven Bile Uptake

Investigators demonstrated the pathophysiological effects of bile acids on stellate cells in two experimental models: ex vivo (mouse pancreatic lobules) and in vitro (human cells). [J Physiol] Full Article | Press Release

Metabolic Stress Induces Caspase-3 Mediated Degradation and Inactivation of Farnesyl and Geranylgeranyl Transferase Activities in Pancreatic β-Cells

Researchers assessed the impact of metabolic stress (gluco-, lipotoxicity and ER-stress) on the functional status of protein prenylation pathway in pancreatic β-cells. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

Leukotriene B4 Induces EMT and Vimentin Expression in PANC-1 Pancreatic Cancer Cells: Involvement of BLT2 via ERK2 Activation

Investigators examined whether leukotriene B4 induces epithelial mesenchymal transition and vimentin expression in PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cell lines. [Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids] Abstract

Blocking Nerve Growth Factor Signaling Reduces the Neural Invasion Potential of Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Researchers examined the molecular mechanism of the nerve growth factor signaling pathway in perineural invasion in pancreatic cancer. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

ROCK Signaling Induced Gene Expression Changes in Mouse Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells

To determine how increased ROCK signaling affected gene expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, the authors transduced mouse PDAC cell lines with retroviral constructs encoding fusion proteins that enable conditional activation of ROCK1 or ROCK2. [Sci Data] Abstract

Epigenetic Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Is There a Therapeutic Perspective on the Horizon?

The authors summarize both current clinical trial activities and discovery programs initiated throughout the biopharma landscape, and critically discusses the chances, hurdles and limitations of epigenetic-based therapy in future pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treatment. [Gut] Full Article

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ADI-PEG 20 Radio-Sensitizes Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Amplifying Early Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Polaris Group announced that arginine deiminase formulated with polyethylene glycol (ADI-PEG 20) can selectively enhance the effect of radiation in argininosuccinate synthetase deficient pancreatic tumors according to results presented by researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center. [Press release from Polaris Group (PR Newswire Association LLC) discussing research presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology 58^th Annual Meeting (ASTRO), Boston] Press Release

OncoVent Initiates Clinical Development Program for Anti-MUC1 MAb AR20.5 for Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

OncoQuest Inc. announced that its Joint Venture Partner in China, OncoVent Co., Ltd. has launched its clinical development program for Anti-MUC1 MAb AR20.5 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. [Quest PharmaTech Inc.] Press Release

Onxeo Announces Promising Results from Preclinical Studies of Livatag^® in Pancreatic Cancer

Onxeo S.A. announced results from a series of preclinical studies evaluating Livatag^® interest for pancreatic cancer. [Onexo] Press Release

amcure Initiates Clinical Study in Patients to Test Novel Approach for Treating Advanced and Metastatic Cancers

amcure announced the initiation and first patient treated in a Phase I/Ib clinical study of their lead program, AMC303, in cancer patients. AMC303 has been developed to target CD44v6, a key molecule in molecular pathways of several receptor-tyrosine-kinases, such as c-MET, VEGFR-2 and RON which are involved in both tumor growth and metastases. [amcure GmbH] Press Release

Big Brain Projects Urged to Aid Public Health

Major brain-mapping projects have multiplied in recent years, as neuroscientists develop new technologies to decipher how the brain works. These initiatives focus on understanding the brain, but the World Health Organization wants to ensure that they work to translate their early discoveries and technological advances into tests and treatments for brain disorders. [Nature News] Editorial

Hard Work, Little Reward: Nature Readers Reveal Working Hours and Research Challenges

A poll answered by thousands of Nature readers suggests that nearly two-thirds have considered quitting research, and that almost 40% work more than 60 hours in a week. The fight for funding is the greatest challenge facing early-career scientists, readers said. [Nature News] Editorial

Twitterstorm Shows Why Scientific Evidence Matters

Grammar and Twitter rarely sit happily, so it would be churlish to point out that when the Welsh MP Glyn Davies tweeted at the weekend: “Nothing more irritating than academics ­rubbishing the efforts of those operating at the sharp end, without facing up to the hard decisions”, he was inadvertently complaining that people at the sharp end (himself included presumably) do not confront hard decisions. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conference: Stem Cells & Cancer
February 12-17, 2017
Barga, Italy

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

NEW Research Fellow – Genome Regulation and Diabetes (Imperial College London)

NEW Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Immunoncology (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Diabetes Research (University of Oklahoma Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Type II Diabetes and Islet Biology (Lund University)

Research Associate – Cancer Therapeutics (Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer and Immunometabolism (The University of Michigan)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Pancreatic Cancer (Van Andel Research Institute)>)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology of Diabetes (INSERM)

Vice President – Pancreatic Cancer Disease Lead (Celgene Corporation)

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

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

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

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