Pancreatic Cell News Volume 9.29 | Jul 24 2018

TOP STORY

MANF Protects Human Pancreatic Beta Cells against Stress-Induced Cell Death

Researchers studied the potential of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) to protect human beta cells against experimentally induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. Primary human islets were challenged with proinflammatory cytokines, with or without MANF. Addition of recombinant human MANF reduced cytokine-induced cell death by 38% in human islets. [Diabetologia] Full Article

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DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

Islet-Like Clusters Derived from Skeletal Muscle-Derived Stem/Progenitor Cells for Autologous Transplantation to Control Type 1 Diabetes in Mice

Muscle-derived stem/progenitor cells isolated from the skeletal muscles of mice possessed the ability to form islet-like clusters through several stages of differentiation. The expressions of pancreatic progenitor-related genes, insulin, and islet-related genes were significantly upregulated in islet-like clusters determined by the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. [Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol] Abstract

Mechanisms of Beneficial Effects of Metformin on Fatty Acid-Treated Human Islets

Inclusion of metformin during palmitate exposure normalized insulin secretion both after two and seven days. After two-day exposure to palmitate, oxygen consumption rate and the marker of the adaptive arm of ER stress response were significantly raised whereas AMPK phosphorylation, markers of pro-apoptotic arm of ER stress response and apoptosis were not affected. [J Mol Endocrinol] Abstract

Regeneration of Insulin-Producing Islets from Dental Pulp Stem Cells Using a 3D Culture System

Scientists aimed to establish the differentiation protocol of dental pulp stem cells into pancreatic islets using a 3D structure. Islet formation increased insulin and C-peptide production, and enhanced the expression of pancreatic markers. Pancreatic endocrine markers, transcriptional factors, and the PI3K/AKT and WNT pathways were also upregulated. [Regen Med] Abstract

Double-Stranded RNA-Dependent Kinase PKR Activates NF-κB Pathway in Acute Pancreatitis

Tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6 and lactate dehydrogenase in acute pancreatitis pancreatic tissues and cerulein-treated AR42J cells increased, while RNA-dependent kinase (PKR) knockdown in AR42J cells reversed cerulein-induced inflammatory response and pancreatic cell injury. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Zinc Chelator Inhibits Zinc-Induced Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Deposition and Apoptosis in INS-1 Cells

Investigators showed that N, N, N′, N′-Tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN) could reverse zinc-induced INS-1 cell apoptosis and insulin secretion. And the anti-apoptosis effects of TPEN were related to the extracellular regulated protein kinases/c-jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. [Biol Trace Elem Res] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

miR-361-3p Regulates ERK1/2-Induced EMT via DUSP2 mRNA Degradation in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Overexpression of miR-361-3p promoted pancreatic cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro, and miR-361-3p-elevated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells were prone to generating metastatic nodules in vivo. However, miR-361-3p showed no significant effect on the proliferation of PDAC cells in vivo or in vitro. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Antidiabetic Adiponectin Receptor Agonist AdipoRon Suppresses Tumor Growth of Pancreatic Cancer by Inducing RIPK1/ERK-Dependent Necroptosis

Researchers found that adiponectin (APN) receptor (AdipoR) agonist AdipoRon, but not APN, induced MIAPaCa-2 cell death, mainly through necroptosis. Although both AdipoRon and APN activated AMPK and p38 MAPK in an AdipoR-dependent manner that elicited survival signals, only AdipoRon induced rapid mitochondrial dysfunction through mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload, followed by superoxide production via RIPK1 and ERK1/2 activation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

ALKBH5 Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Motility by Decreasing Long Non-Coding RNA KCNK15-AS1 Methylation

KCNK15-AS1 inhibited migration and invasion in MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells. The N⁶-Methyladenosine eraser ALKBH5 was downregulated in cancer cells, which could demethylate KCNK15-AS1 and regulate KCNK15-AS1-mediated cell motility. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

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Sweet Killing in Obesity and Diabetes: The Metabolic Role of the BH3-Only Protein BIM

The authors describe the apoptotic mechanisms mediated by BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3)-only protein (BIM) activation in β-cells in obesity and both forms of diabetes. They focus on molecular pathways triggered by inflammation, saturated fats and high levels of glucose. [J Mol Biol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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PharmaCyte Biotech Successfully Completes Another Study on the Encapsulated Cells Used in Its Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. announced that it has successfully completed a study on the stability after “hand thawing” syringes of the Cell-in-a Box^® encapsulated cells that will be used, in combination with low doses of the cancer prodrug ifosfamide, for the treatment of locally advanced, non-metastatic, inoperable pancreatic cancer. [PharmaCyte Biotech Inc.] Press Release

Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC Announces New Home in West L.A.

The Ellison Institute’s new 79,000-sq. ft. building will house a cancer clinic, interdisciplinary research laboratories focused on scientific discovery and innovation, a think tank, community education and outreach, and a wellness program. It is slated to open in May 2019. [Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

University of Edinburgh Demands Retraction of Researcher’s Papers

The University of Edinburgh has asked for the retraction of five papers by cell biologist and former faculty member Irina Stancheva following an internal investigation into scientific misconduct allegations, according to Times Higher Education. [The Scientist] Editorial

Trump and Brexit Could Lure More Scientists to Ireland, Says Research Chief

Uncertainty in the UK and US scientific communities because of combined effects of Brexit and Donald Trump’s controversial policies could provide Ireland with a competitive advantage, according to the director general of Science Foundation Ireland. [The Irish Times] Editorial

NEW International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2019 Annual Meeting
June 26-29, 2019
Los Angeles, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Beta Cell Research (Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen)

Postdoctoral Positions – Pancretic Cancer Research (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Metabolism, Diabetes & Obesity Research (The University of Edinburg)

Research Assistant – Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Cancer (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Scholars – Molecular & Cellular Biology in Diabetes & Metabolism (University of Oklahoma)

Lecturer/ Professor/ Clinical Academic – Diabetes (University of Exeter)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Drivers of Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis (The Moffitt Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – Type 1 Diabetes Research (University of Florida)

Assistant or Associate Professor (Tenure Track) – Immunopathology of Metabolic Diseases)

Postdoctoral Positions – Immunology of Diabetes (Cochin Institute)

Doctoral Thesis Position – Diabetes Research (Universite Libre de Bruxelles)

Postdoctoral Position – Inflammation and Metabolism (Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Epigenetic Regulation of Pancreatic Beta-Cell Mass (City of Hope)

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