Pancreatic Cell News Volume 9.05 | Feb 6 2018

TOP STORY

Replication Confers β Cell Immaturity

Researchers showed that β-cell proliferation and immaturity are linked by tuning expression of physiologically relevant, non-oncogenic levels of c-Myc. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

The miR-135b–BMAL1–YY1 Loop Disturbs Pancreatic Clockwork to Promote Tumorigenesis and Chemoresistance

Investigators showed that the molecular clockwork within malignant human pancreatic epithelium is disrupted and that this disruption is mediated by miR-135b-induced BMAL1 repression. miR-135b directly targets the BMAL1 3′-UTR and thereby disturbs the pancreatic oscillator, and the downregulation of miR-135b is essential for the realignment of the cellular clock. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

CI-MPR Deficiency Enhances β-Cell Susceptibility to Palmitate

The authors identified a role for lysosomal protein degradation as a mechanism by which β-cells defend themselves against excess palmitate. The cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) was responsible for the trafficking of mannose 6-phosphate tagged proteins to lysosomes via Golgi sorting and from extracellular locations through endocytosis. [Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Stimulates the Expression of Glucose Transporter 2 via Its Receptor in Pancreatic β Cell Line, INS-1 Cells

Scientists examined the expression of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) in rat pancreatic islets and evaluated the role of TSH in regulating pancreas-specific gene expression. TSHR was confirmed to be expressed in rodent pancreatic islets and its cell line, INS-1 cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Estrogen Receptor Alpha Protects Pancreatic Beta Cells from Apoptosis by Preserving Mitochondrial Function and Suppressing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

The authors tested a hypothesis using pancreatic islet-specific estrogen receptor alpha knockout mice and Min6 β-cells in culture with Esr1 knockdown (KD). They found that Esr1-KD promoted reactive oxygen species production that associated with reduced fission:fusion dynamics and impaired mitophagy. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

Long Non-Coding RNA XLOC_000647 Suppresses Progression of Pancreatic Cancer and Decreases Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Induced Cell Invasion by Down-Regulating NLRP3

XLOC_000647 expression was down-regulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. The expression level of XLOC_000647 was significantly correlated to tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and overall survival. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

The Novel Oncolytic Adenoviral Mutant Ad5-3Δ-A20T Retargeted to αvβ6 Integrins Efficiently Eliminates Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Ad5-3Δ-A20T infected and killed αvβ6 integrin-expressing cells more effectively than the parental wild-type virus and AdΔΔ. Viral uptake through αvβ6 integrins rather than native viral receptors promoted viral propagation and spread. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Pyruvate Kinase Type M2 Contributes to the Development of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma by Regulating the Production of Metabolites and Reactive Oxygen Species

Investigators found that the RNAi-mediated knockdown of pyruvate kinase M2 isoform diminished the proliferative, migratory and tumorigenic ability of the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell-lines. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Pharmacologic Ascorbate (P-AscH⁻) Suppresses Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Scientists demonstrated an oxygen- and prolyl hydroxylase-independent regulation of HIF-1α by P-AscH⁻. Additionally, P-AscH⁻ decreased VEGF secretion in a dose-dependent manner that was reversible with catalase, consistent with an H₂O₂-mediated mechanism. [Clin Exp Metastasis] Abstract

Co-Treatment with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel Exerts Additive Effects on Pancreatic Cancer Cell Death

Researchers assessed the activity of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) alone or in combination with gemcitabine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines displaying different degrees of sensitivity to gemcitabine treatment. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

The Journey of Islet Cell Transplantation and Future Development

The authors provide a brief introduction and history of islet cell transplantation, limitations associated with this procedure and methods to alleviate islet cell loss as a means to improve engraftment outcomes. [Islets] Abstract

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

PharmaCyte Announces Completion of Preparatory Work and Commencement of Testing by Eurofins of Cells from Its Master Cell Bank

PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. announced that the steps necessary for the testing of cells from its Master Cell Bank have been completed by Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories and that testing began last month. [PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.] Press Release

Perlmutter Cancer Center Names New Director of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology

Paul E. Oberstein, MD will join New York University (NYU) Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center as director of gastrointestinal medical oncology and assistant director of its recently established Pancreatic Cancer Center. [NYU Langone Hospitals] Press Release

Japanese Researchers Say Science-Budget Hike Isn’t Enough

Japan will sharply increase funding for science and technology in 2018 after years of stagnant support for the sector. But some scientists and policy experts worry the boost is too little to make up for more than a decade of lackluster science funding. [Nature News] Editorial

Pubmed Commons Closes Its Doors to Comments

The US National Institutes of Health announced that it will discontinue PubMed Commons, a tool that allows scientists to comment on articles indexed in the agency’s popular PubMed database of biomedical literature. The agency said low levels of engagement and the growth of alternate venues for public discussion of published papers contributed to its decision to close PubMed Commons after five years. [Nature News] Editorial

Nature Journals Tighten Rules on Non-Financial Conflicts

What makes a conflict of interest in science? Definitions differ, but broadly agree on one thing: an influence that can cloud a researcher’s objectivity. For some people, that influence can be money. But there are other influences that can interfere, such as institutional loyalty, personal beliefs and ambition. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Conference 2018
October 23-24, 2018
New York, New York, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes Research (Joslin Diabetes Center)

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

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

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)

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