Pancreatic Cell News Volume 9.04 | Jan 30 2018

TOP STORY

Evolutionary Routes and KRAS Dosage Define Pancreatic Cancer Phenotypes

The authors found an increase in gene dosage of mutant KRAS in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) precursors, which drives both early tumorigenesis and metastasis and thus rationalizes early PDAC dissemination. To overcome the limitations posed to gene dosage studies by the stromal richness of PDAC, they developed large cell culture resources of metastatic mouse PDAC. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

SWELL1 Is a Glucose Sensor Regulating β-Cell Excitability and Systemic Glycemia

Investigators showed that SWELL1 mediates a swell-activated, depolarizing chloride current (I_Cl,SWELL) in both murine and human β-cells. Hypotonic and glucose-stimulated β-cell swelling activates SWELL1-mediated I_Cl,SWELL and this contributed to membrane depolarization and activation of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels-dependent intracellular calcium signaling. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Dysfunctional Autophagy following Exposure to Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Contributes to Pancreatic β-Cell Apoptosis

Researchers document that cytokines activate the AMPK-ULK-1 pathway while inhibiting mTORC1, which stimulates autophagy activity in an endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent manner. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Olfactory Receptors Are Expressed in Pancreatic β-Cells and Promote Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion

Investigators found several olfactory receptor isoforms, including OLFR15 and OLFR821, to be expressed in pancreatic islets and a β-cell line, MIN6. Immunostaining revealed OLFR15 and OLFR821 to be uniformly expressed in pancreatic β-cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Dynamic Effects of Isosteviol on Insulin Secretion and Its Inability to Counteract the Impaired β-Cell Function during Gluco-, Lipo-, and Aminoacidotoxicity: Studies In Vitro

Scientists investigated if isosteviol elicits dynamic insulin release from pancreatic islets and concomitantly is able to ameliorate gluco-, lipo-, and aminoacidotoxicity in clonal β-cell line in relation to cell viability and insulin secretion. [Nutrients] Full Article

Pioglitazone/Metformin Adduct Regulates Insulin Secretion and Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Apoptosis via p21-p53-MDM2 Signaling in INS-1 Cells

The authors investigated the effects of pioglitazone/metformin adduct on high glucose-induced insulin secretion and apoptosis in INS-1 cells. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Phenylalanine Regulates Initiation of Digestive Enzyme mRNA Translation in Pancreatic Acinar Cells and Tissue Segments in Dairy Calves

Researchers investigated the effects of phenylalanine on digestive enzymes synthesis or secretion and cellular signaling in pancreatic acinar cells of dairy calves. [Biosci Rep] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

Identification of Sox6 as a Regulator of Pancreatic Cancer Development

Scientists explored the role of the transcription factor sex-determining region Y-box 6 in the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. They showed that Sox6 is down-regulated in patients with PC in association with metastatic disease. [J Cell Mol Med] Abstract

Depletion of HDAC1, 7 and 8 by Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Confers Elimination of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells in Combination with Gemcitabine

Investigators evaluated the effect of trichostatin A on histone deacetylase (HDAC) expression, tumor cell proliferation, and cancer stem cells activities in pancreatic ductal adenocarnoma cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Ever-Evolving Concept of the Cancer Stem Cell in Pancreatic Cancer

The authors provide the latest updates and knowledge on the inherent characteristics of pancreatic cancer stem cells, particularly their unique biological properties including chemoresistance, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, plasticity, metabolism and autophagy. [Cancers] Full Article

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

Adocia Announces Positive Topline Data from a Dose-Proportionality Study of BioChaperone^® Combo in People with Type 2 Diabetes

Adocia announced positive topline results from a Phase Ib clinical trial evaluating the dose exposure and dose response relationships of BioChaperone^® Combo 75/25 at three different doses in people with type 2 diabetes. [Adocia] Press Release

Sun Biopharma, Inc. Announces Initiation of First-Line Combination Study of SBP-101 with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Sun BioPharma, Inc. announced its initiation of a first-line dose-escalation study of SBP-101 in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in previously untreated patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. [Sun BioPharma, Inc.] Press Release

Tempus and NYU School of Medicine Announce New Initiative to Help Improve Outcomes for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Tempus announced a collaboration with NYU School of Medicine aimed at improving outcomes for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. [Tempus] Press Release

FDA Approves New Treatment for Certain Digestive Tract Cancers

The FDA approved Lutathera for the treatment of a type of cancer that affects the pancreas or gastrointestinal tract called gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. [The U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

Computer Scientist to Lead French Research Giant; Interim Head Leaves Amid Misconduct Allegations

Computer scientist Antoine Petit, 57, is the new head of Europe’s largest research organization. There was an unusual twist to Petit’s appointment, however. A week before the official procedure ended, the French government named Petit interim president of the National Center for Scientific Research, a position that had been held by cell biologist Anne Peyroche since Fuchs’s departure. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Gender Bias Goes Away When Grant Reviewers Focus on the Science

But female scientists suffer when their research proposals are judged primarily on the strength of their CVs. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Advances in Cell and Tissue Culture (ACTC) 2018
May 21-23, 2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis (Moffitt Cancer Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Pancreas Development and Stem Cells (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

NEW PHD/Research Positions – Cancer Genomic Evolution (The Royal Institute of Technology)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Pancreatic Research (Medical Research Council)

PhD Student Position – Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis (University Medical Center Freiburg)

Research Program Manager – Pancreatic Cancer Program (University of Cambridge)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Pancreatic Cancer (Columbia University)

Professorship – Pancreas Development and Disease (Technischen Universität Dresden)

Tenure-Track Group Leader Position – Pancreatic Cancer Biology (University of Copenhagen)

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

Scientist – Diabetes and Obesity (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Pancreatic Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.