Pancreatic Cell News Volume 8.33 | Aug 22 2017

TOP STORY

ROCKII Inhibition Promotes the Maturation of Human Pancreatic Beta-Like Cells

Scientists report a high content chemical screen, revealing that H1152, a ROCK inhibitor, promotes the robust generation of insulin-expressing cells from multiple human pluripotent stem cell lines. The insulin expressing cells obtained after H1152 treatment showed increased expression of mature beta cell markers and improved glucose stimulated insulin secretion. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

Modular Tissue Engineering for the Vascularization of Subcutaneously Transplanted Pancreatic Islets

In streptozotocin-induced diabetic SCID/beige mice, the injection of 750 rat islet equivalents embedded in endothelialized collagen modules was sufficient to restore and maintain normoglycemia for 21 days; the same number of free islets was unable to affect glucose levels. Researchers demonstrated that modular tissue engineering results in a s.c. vascularized bed that enables the transplantation of pancreatic islets. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Amyloid-Induced β-Cell Dysfunction and Islet Inflammation Are Ameliorated by 4-Phenylbutyrate Treatment

The authors determined whether in vivo treatment with chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) ameliorates human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP)-induced β-cell dysfunction and islet amyloid formation. PBA treatment almost completely prevented the transcriptomic alterations observed in hIAPP transgenic islets, including the induction of genes related to inflammation. [FASEB J] Abstract

The Dual Role of Group V Secretory Phospholipase A2 in Pancreatic β-Cells

Researchers demonstrated that GX (group X) secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA₂) negatively regulates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by a prostaglandin E2-dependent mechanism. They investigated whether GV sPLA₂ similarly regulates GSIS. [Endocrine] Abstract

Reprogramming Human Gallbladder Cells into Insulin-Producing β-Like Cells

Investigators report on the very first genetic reprogramming of patient-derived human gallbladder and cystic duct (GBCs) to β-like cells for potential autologous cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes. GBCs were reprogrammed into insulin-producing pancreatic β-like cells by a combined adenoviral-mediated expression of hallmark pancreatic endocrine transcription factors PDX1, MAFA, NEUROG3, and PAX6 and differentiation culture in vitro. [PLoS One] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

Non-Thermal Plasma-Treated Solution Demonstrates Antitumor Activity against Pancreatic Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Using a syngeneic murine pancreatic cancer cell tumor model, the effect of non-thermal plasma (NTP) on peritoneal metastatic lesions was studied. Tumor nodes treated by NTP-conditioned medium demonstrated large areas of apoptosis with strongly inhibited cell proliferation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The lncRNA-TUG1/EZH2 Axis Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration and EMT Phenotype Formation through Sponging MiR-382 In Vitro and In Vivo

Scientists report that lncRNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) was overexpressed in pancreatic carcinoma tissues and cell lines, and high expression of TUG1 predicted poor prognosis. Further experiments revealed that overexpressed TUG1 promoted cell proliferation, migration and contributed to epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) formation, whereas silenced TUG1 led to opposing results. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Glucose Limitation Alters Glutamine Metabolism in MUC1 Overexpressing Pancreatic Cancer Cells

An NMR metabolomics comparative analysis of control and MUC1-overexpressing cells demonstrated that MUC1 reprograms glutamine metabolism upon glucose limitation. The observed alteration in glutamine metabolism under glucose limitation accompanied with a relative decrease in the proliferation of MUC1-overexpressing cells compared to steady state conditions. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

USP5 Promotes Tumorigenesis and Progression of Pancreatic Cancer by Stabilizing FoxM1 Protein

Investigators demonstrated that ubiquitin-specific protease 5 (USP5) was significantly upregulated in a panel of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines and correlated with FoxM1 protein expression. USP5 knockdown inhibited proliferation of PANC-1 and SW1990, two PDAC cell lines. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Britannin Induces Apoptosis through AKT-FOXO1 Pathway in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Researchers evaluated the anticancer properties of britannin and its possible mechanisms of action in human pancreatic cancer cells. Apoptosis induction by Britannin was confirmed by annexin V-FITC/PI staining, Hoechst 33258 staining and caspase-3 activity assay in both AsPC-1 and Panc-1 cells. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Regenerative Medicine and Cell-Based Approaches to Restore Pancreatic Function

Researchers describe progress and challenges in cell-based methods to restore pancreatic function, with a focus on optimizing the site for cell delivery and decreasing requirements for immunosuppression through encapsulation. They also discuss the tools and strategies being used to generate exocrine pancreas and insulin-producing β-cell surrogates in situ and highlight obstacles to clinical application. [Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract

Islet G-Protein Coupled Receptors: Therapeutic Potential for Diabetes

Scientists explore the pharmaceutical development of drugs that activate individual or multiple β-cell G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and explain how knowledge of GPCR expression by human islets may inform direction on novel GPCR targets. [Curr Opin Pharmacol] Abstract

Heterogeneity in the Beta-Cell Population: A Guided Search into Its Significance in Pancreas and in Implants

The authors update evidence for the physiologic significance of beta-cell heterogeneity in the pancreas. They also discuss what this role would imply for beta-cell implants in diabetes. [Curr Diab Rep] Full Article

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

Samsung Bioepis and Takeda Sign Strategic Collaboration Agreement to Co-Develop Multiple Novel Biologic Therapies

Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. announced that it has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited to jointly fund and co-develop multiple novel biologic therapies in unmet disease areas. The two companies will immediately begin working on the program’s first therapeutic candidate, TAK-671, which is intended to treat severe acute pancreatitis. [Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd.] Press Release

City of Hope Scientists Receive Helmsley Grant to Support Type 1 Diabetes Work

Scientists at the Beckman Research Institute received over $300,000 from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support scientific collaborations to fight type 1 diabetes. [City of Hope] Press Release

NSF Reiterates Policy on Teaching Good Research Habits despite Its Limitations

The National Science Foundation (NSF) in Arlington, Virginia, has decided to double down on its implementation of a congressionally mandated policy aimed at reducing research misconduct among NSF-funded scientists, despite a new report that notes problems with the agency’s approach. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

China’s Embrace of Embryo Selection Raises Thorny Questions

Fertility centers are making a massive push to increase preimplantation genetic diagnosis in a bid to eradicate certain diseases. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)-European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) 2017 Meeting
December 2-6, 2017
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Tumor Environment (Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Islet Biology (Sanofi)

NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – hPSC Differentiation into Beta Cells (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

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

Scientist – Diabetes and Obesity (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Assistant Investigator – Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics and Biomarkers (Baylor Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics and Biomarkers (Baylor Research Institute)

Research Assistant – Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics and Biomarkers (Baylor Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Pancreatic and Lung Cancer Research (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (Harvard Medical School)

Faculty Positions – Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism (University of Pittsburgh)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Pancreatic Cancer Metabolism (Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Mechanisms of Obesity and Diabetes (NYU Langone Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Obesity and Diabetes (University of Iowa)

Assistant Professor – Metabolic Disorders (Umeå University)

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