Pancreatic Cell News Volume 8.41 | Oct 17 2017

TOP STORY

Ectopic Expression of Pax4 in Pancreatic δ Cells Results in β-Like Cell Neogenesis

Researchers demonstrated that the ectopic expression of Pax4 in δ cells was sufficient to induce their conversion into functional β-like cells. This conversion induced compensatory mechanisms involving the reactivation of endocrine developmental processes that resulted in dramatic β-like cell hyperplasia. [J Cell Biol] Abstract

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DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

Trk-Fused Gene (TFG) Regulates Pancreatic β Cell Mass and Insulin Secretory Activity

β-cell specific TFG knockout mice (βTFG KO) displayed marked glucose intolerance with reduced insulin secretion. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed smaller β-cell masses in βTFG KO than in controls, likely attributable to diminished β-cell proliferation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Carnosine Scavenging of Glucolipotoxic Free Radicals Enhances Insulin Secretion and Glucose Uptake

Scientists aimed to increase insulin secretion by developing strategies that work through mechanisms independent of current treatment options. Isolated CD1 mouse islets, INS-1 pancreatic β-cells, or C2C12 mouse myotubes were incubated in standard tissue culture media, or media supplemented with 28 mM glucose, 200 μM palmitic acid, and 200 μM oleic acid as a cellular model of diabetic glucolipotoxicity. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Improves β-Cell Dysfunction by Suppressing the miR-27a-Induced Downregulation of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1

Investigators showed that cholesterol significantly attenuated cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis, facilitated lipid accumulation, and impaired β-cells function, and these effects were significantly reversed by glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The results demonstrated that GLP-1 decreased miR-27a expression and increased the expression of ABCA1. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

Multifaceted Peptide Assisted One-Pot Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles for Plectin-1 Targeted Gemcitabine Delivery in Pancreatic Cancer

The authors show a unique method for the fabrication of a gold nanoparticle (GNP) based targeted drug delivery platform using a multifaceted peptide that acts as reducing agent, template for GNP synthesis and targeting agent to display remarkable selectivity towards pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [Nanoscale] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

ANO9/TMEM16J Promotes Tumorigenesis via EGFR and Is a Novel Therapeutic Target for Pancreatic Cancer

Scientists found that the anoctamin (ANO)9 mRNA and protein levels were increased in pancreatic cancer-derived cells. Exogenous expression of ANO9 in PANC-1 cells significantly increased cell proliferation in cell cultures and in mice. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Achiral Mannich-Base Curcumin Analogs Induce Unfolded Protein Response and Mitochondrial Membrane Depolarization in PANC-1 Cells

Scientists found that achiral curcumin analogs, C509, C521 and C524 possessed superior, 40-times more potent cytotoxic activity compared to natural dihydroxy-dimetoxycurcumin in pancreatic cancer cell lines. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Regulation of an Evolutionarily Conserved RNA Polymerase II-Associated Factor 1 Involved in Pancreatic Oncogenesis

Researchers found that polymerase II-associated factor 1 (Paf1) undergoes proteasomal degradation in well-differentiated, but not poorly differentiated, pancreatic cancer cells, hence pointing to the ubiquitin-proteasome system in upregulation of Paf1 in poorly differ-entiated cancers. [Biochemistry] Abstract

Ginsenoside Rg3 Enhances the Anti-Proliferative Activity of Erlotinib in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines by Downregulation of EGFR/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

The authors investigated the activity of ginsenoside Rg3 to sensitize erlotinib in treating pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Ginsenoside Rg3 enhanced the anti-proliferative effects of erlotinib in BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and xenograft. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract

Gene Editing and Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: Tools for Advancing Diabetes Disease Modeling and Beta-Cell Development

Scientists focus on the multiple approaches to gene editing and address the potential use of genetically modified human pluripotent stem cell-derived beta cells as a tool to study human beta-cell development and model their function in diabetes. [Curr Diab Rep] Abstract

Beta Cell Replacement Strategies for Diabetes

Transplant of donor human islets can effectively treat diabetes and eliminate the need for insulin injections, supporting research aimed at identifying abundant supplies of cells. Studies demonstrating the feasibility of producing mouse islets in rats support the concept of generating pigs with human pancreas that can serve as donors of human islets, although scientific and ethical challenges remain. [J Diabetes Investig] Abstract

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‘Easy Inspiration’ Sparks Medical Properties Trust $2.5 Million Gift to UAB’s Comprehensive Diabetes Center

Medical Properties Trust co-founders Edward Aldag Jr. and Emmett McLean, and philanthropists David Silverstein and Benny LaRussa Jr. recently donated $2.5 million to the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Comprehensive Diabetes Center to further bolster the cutting-edge efforts of the research entity. [University of Alabama, Birmingham] Press Release

MabVax Therapeutics Initiates Patient Enrollment in a Phase I Trial for MVT-1075, a New Radioimmunotherapy Treatment for Advanced Pancreatic, Colon and Lung Cancers

MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. announced the initiation of patient enrollment in a Phase I clinical trial evaluating a new radioimmunotherapy product for patients with locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or other CA19-9 positive malignancies including colon and lung cancers. [MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.] Press Release

TGen Receives $2.5 Million SU2C Grant for New Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) has awarded a $2.5 million SU2C Catalyst grant to the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) to investigate a revolutionary new method of treating pancreatic cancer. [Translational Genomics Research Institute] Press Release

Salk Researchers Awarded $2.5 Million for Innovative Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial

Salk Professor and HHMI Investigator Ronald Evans has been awarded $2.5 million by Stand Up To Cancer as part of a multi-institution team to conduct clinical studies to open up a new avenue for immunotherapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. [Salk Institute for Biological Studies] Press Release

German Researchers Resign from Elsevier Journals in Push for Nationwide Open Access

Five leading German scientists have resigned from their editorial positions at journals published by Elsevier, the latest step in a battle over open-access and subscription policies between the Dutch publishing giant and a consortium of German libraries, universities, and research institutes. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Japanese Research Leaders Warn about National Science Decline

As Japan heads towards a national election, scientific leaders worry that the outcome will do little to address long-standing concerns about the country’s deteriorating research landscape. They say that a decline in funding and a shift away from basic research has undermined Japan’s capacity to compete against both established scientific powerhouses and emerging ones such as China. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump’s UNESCO Exit Draws Critics, but Will Have Little Immediate Impact

To the dismay of many researchers, the U.S. government announced that it would formally withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) based in Paris. The decision—which is not expected to cause major disruptions in UNESCO’s science programs—comes roughly six years after the United States stopped contributing funds to the organization because of its recognition of Palestine, and four years after the United States lost its UNESCO voting rights. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW European CanCer Organization (ECCO) 2018: European Cancer Summit
September 7-9, 2018
Vienna, Austria

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NEW Research Fellow – Pancreatic Cancer (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Cell Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Position – Pancreatic Cancer (University of California, San Francisco)

Faculty Positions – Cancer Research (Huntsman Cancer Institute)

Professor – Immunomodulation (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)

Researcher – Cancer Biology (University of Cincinnati)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes (Harvard University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – RNA Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer (Stanford University)

Faculty Position – Cancer Biology (The University of Texas Southwestern)

Scientist – Diabetes and Obesity (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

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