Pancreatic Cell News 8.16 April 25, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYGold Nanoclusters-Assisted Delivery of NGF siRNA for Effective Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer The authors showed that gold nanocluster-assisted delivery of siRNA of nerve growth factor (NGF) (GNC–siRNA) allows efficient NGF gene silencing and pancreatic cancer treatment. The GNC–siRNA complex increases the stability of siRNA in serum, prolongs the circulation lifetime of siRNA in blood and enhances the cellular uptake and tumor accumulation of siRNA. [Nat Commun] Full Article | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)DIABETES & PANCREATITISScientists demonstrated that neurogenin 3 (NEUROG3) is phosphorylated within the nucleus on serine 183, which catalyzes its hyperphosphorylation and proteosomal degradation. During progression through the progenitor cell cycle, NEUROG3 phosphorylation is driven by the actions of cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and 4/6 at G1/S cell-cycle checkpoint. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Investigators examined the effects of mutation of five ‘inhibitory’ Ser phosphorylation sites on insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) function in transgenic mice that overexpress, selectively in pancreatic β cells, either wild-type (WT) or a mutated IRS2 protein (IRS25A). Islets size, number, and mRNA levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase, were increased, while those of nitric oxide synthase were decreased in seven to ten weeks old IRS25A-β mice compared to IRS2WT-β mice. [Diabetes] Abstract Deciphering Tacrolimus-Induced Toxicity in Pancreatic β-Cells Researchers evaluated the effect of tacrolimus, cyclosporine-A and metabolic stressors on insulinoma β-cells in vitro and in pancreata of obese and lean Zucker rats. Cells were cultured for five days with 100μM palmitate and 22mM glucose; cyclosporin-A or tacrolimus were added the last 48 hours. Glucose+palmitate increased nuclear FoxO1 and decreased nuclear MafA. Tacrolimus on top of glucose+palmitate magnified these changes in nuclear factors whereas cyclosporin-A did not. [Am J Transplant] Abstract Scientists challenged four-week-old β-cell-specific Rictor-knockout mice with a high fat diet for four weeks and measured metabolic and pancreatic morphological parameters. They performed ex vivo experiments to analyze β cell insulin secretion and electrophysiology characteristics. Adenoviral-mediated overexpression and lentiviral-shRNA-mediated knocking down proteins were applied in Min6 cells and cultured primary mouse islets. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract PANCREATIC CANCERGlobal Protease Activity Profiling Provides Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cysts The authors used a global approach to discover protease activities that differentiate benign nonmucinous cysts from premalignant mucinous cysts. They employed an unbiased and global protease profiling approach to discover protease activities in 23 cyst fluid samples. The distinguishing activities of select proteases was confirmed in 110 samples using specific fluorogenic substrates and required less than 5 µL of cyst fluid. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract Investigators evaluated the impact of acenocoumarol therapy on the course of acute pancreatitis induced in male rats by pancreatic ischemia followed by reperfusion. Acenocoumarol at a dose of 50, 100, or 150 µg/kg/dose was administered intragastrically once a day, starting the first dose 24 hours after the initiation of pancreatic reperfusion. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article Eighty-one surgically resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were collected. Six novel pancreatic cancer cell lines, AMCPAC01–06, were established and histogenetic characteristics were compared with their matched tissues. The clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics of the cell lines were investigated by KRAS and TP53 sequencing or SMAD4 and p53 immunohistochemistry. Xenografts using AMCPAC cell lines were established. [Cancer Cell Int] Full Article MicroRNA-221-3p Is Up-Regulated and Serves as a Potential Biomarker in Pancreatic Cancer The authors profiled microRNA (miR)-221-3p expression in pancreatic cancer (PCa) cell lines. Compared with normal pancreases ductal epithelial cells, miR-221-3p was up-regulated in all PCa cell lines analyzed. In SW1990 cells, overexpression of miR-221-3p increased cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis, while inhibition of miR-221-3p decreased cell growth rate and promoted apoptosis. Compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues, miR-221-3p was up-regulated in all 21 PCa tissues. [Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSInsulin Analogues in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Getting Better All the Time Researchers discuss the established and novel insulin analogues that are used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and provide insights into the future development of insulin analogues. [Nat Rev Endocrinol] Abstract Nutrient Regulation of β-Cell Function: What Do Islet Cell/Animal Studies Tell Us? The authors describe the origin and characteristics of the most commonly used β-cell lines and their contribution to discovery of fundamental regulatory processes that control insulin production and release. Pancreatic islets obtained from rodents as well as other animals have additionally provided information on the architecture and three-dimensional design of this endocrine tissue that allows precise regulation of hormone release. [Eur J Clin Nutr] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pancreatic cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSDiabeloop Launches Clinical Studies to Obtain CE-Marking for Its Artificial Pancreas Diabeloop announced the launch of a clinical study aiming at securing the CE marking of their Artificial Pancreas, in association with the Cellnovo insulin pump and the Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring. [Diabeloop] Press Release Parvus Therapeutics has entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Novartis for its lead Navacim for treating type 1 diabetes. Navacims constitute a novel pharmacological class of therapeutic comprised of nanoparticles that alter the behavior of disease-causing T lymphocytes. [Parvus Therapeutics] Press Release Oramed Granted European Patent for Combination Oral Insulin and GLP-1 Analog Capsule Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the European Patent Office has granted the company a patent titled, “Methods and Compositions for Treating Diabetes: Capsules containing oil-based liquid compositions of combined therapeutic agents for treating diabetes.” The patent covers Oramed’s invention, a combination therapy including both insulin and a GLP-1 analog in a single oral capsule. [Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release RenovoRx announced that two teams of researchers treating patients with advanced non-metastatic pancreatic tumors reported beneficial effects including lengthened survival rates when using the company’s RenovoCath™ with targeted chemotherapy. The researchers also observed enhanced results in patients who had received previous radiation. [RenovoRx (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSWhat Happened at March for Science Events around the World Tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington DC, and at least 600 other cities around the world, in what may have been one of the largest-ever demonstrations in support of scientific research and evidence-based policymaking. [Nature News] Editorial French Scientists Focus on the Big Political Picture Researchers in France overwhelmingly oppose the far right and can stamp out its rise by turning out to register their disapproval. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Summit for Cancer Immunotherapy 2017 NEW Worldwide Innovative Networking in Personalized Cancer Medicine (WIN) 2017 Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Research Leaders – Career Development Award or Tenure Track (Medical Research Council) Senior Scientist – Pancreatic Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes (University of Toronto) Postdoctoral Associate – Pancreatic Beta Cells (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine) Faculty Member – Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (Johns Hopkins University) Professorship – Molecular Endocrinology (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) Cell Biology Scientist – Autoimmune Disease (Immunocore) Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes Research (Child Health Institute of New Jersey) Principle Investigator – Human Physiology and Experimental Medicine (University of Cambridge) Postdoctoral Fellow – Prostate/Pancreatic Cancer (Medical College of Wisconsin) Postdoctoral Positions – Life Sciences (Helmholtz Zentrum München) Associate Program Officer – Type 1 Diabetes (Helmsley Charitable Trust) Postdoctoral Fellows – Diabetes Research (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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Home Pancreatic Cell News Volume 8.16 | Apr 25 2017