Pancreatic Cell News Volume 9.45 | Nov 13 2018

TOP STORY

TGR5 Activation Promotes Stimulus-Secretion Coupling of Pancreatic Beta-Cells via a PKA-Dependent Pathway

Oleanolic acid (OLA) and two well-established Takeda-G-protein-receptor-5 (TGR5) agonists, RG239 and tauroursodeoxycholic acid, acutely promoted stimulus-secretion coupling. OLA reduced ATP-dependent K⁺ current and elevated current through Ca²⁺ channels. [Diabetes] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

Single-Cell Analyses Identify Distinct and Intermediate States of Zebrafish Pancreatic Islet Development

To define the features of specification and differentiation processes, scientists isolated individual islet cells from TgBAC(neurod1:EGFP) transgenic zebrafish and analyzed islet developmental dynamics across four different embryonic stages using a single-cell RNA-seq strategy. [J Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

Sulfonyl(thio)urea Derivative Induction of Insulin Secretion Is Mediated by Potassium, Calcium, and Sodium Channel Signal Transduction

Sulfonyl(thio)urea derivative reduced glycemia and increased glucagon-like peptide 1 secretion, while inhibiting sucrase and lactase activity. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Antagonistic Interaction between Nodal and Insulin Modulates Pancreatic β-Cell Proliferation and Survival

β-cells under high-glucose or palmitate conditions showed significant up-regulation of Nodal expression and activation of its downstream signaling pathway resulted in increased cleaved caspase-3. [Cell Commun Signal] Full Article

Adenosine Protects Pancreatic Beta Cells against Apoptosis Induced by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Adenosine protected MIN6 cells against tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in a dose-dependent manner and increased their proliferation. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

TP63-Mediated Enhancer Reprogramming Drives the Squamous Subtype of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Scientists showed that expression of the transcription factor TP63 was sufficient to install and sustain the enhancer landscape and transcriptional signature of the squamous lineage in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Urolithin A, a Novel Natural Compound to Target PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Pancreatic Cancer

Researchers showed that treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells with Urolithin A blocked the phosphorylation of AKT and p70S6K in vitro, successfully inhibited the growth of tumor xenografts, and increased overall survival of Ptf1aCre/+;LSL-KrasG12D/+;Tgfbr2flox/flox mice compared to vehicle or gemcitabine therapy alone. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Necuparanib, a Multi-Targeting Heparan Sulfate Mimetic, Targets Tumor and Stromal Compartments in Pancreatic Cancer

Necuparanib reduced tumor cell proliferation and invasion in a 3-dimensional culture model; in vivo it extended survival and reduced metastasis. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Claudin 7 as a Possible Novel Molecular Target for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Although the MIA PaCa-2-A and MIA PaCa-2-R cells displayed the same DNA short tandem repeat pattern identical to that of the parental MIA PaCa-2-cells, the MIA PaCa-2-A cells were more proliferative than the MIA PaCa-2-R cells both in culture and in tumor xenografts generated in immunodeficient mice. [Pancreatology] Abstract

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Epithelial-Stromal Interactions in Pancreatic Cancer

The authors explore the composition of the pancreatic cancer stroma, discuss the network of interactions between different components, and describe recent attempts to target the stroma therapeutically. [Annu Rev Physiol] Abstract

Functions and Clinical Implications of Exosomes in Pancreatic Cancer

Investigators focus on the functions of pancreatic cancer cell-derived exosome contents and their clinical implications in pancreatic cancer. [Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer] Abstract

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

Xeris Pharmaceuticals Releases Additional Phase III Clinical Trial Data on Its Ready-to-Use Liquid Glucagon Pen

Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the presentation of additional data supporting the efficacy and functional utility of its investigational ready-to-use, room-temperature stable liquid glucagon pen. [Press release from Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the 18th Annual Diabetes Technology Meeting, North Bethesda] Press Release

Kadimastem and Defymed Awarded Grant in the EU’s Prestigious Eurostars Program for the Clinical Development of an Integrated Product for the Treatment of Diabetes

Kadimastem Ltd. announced the approval by the European Union (EU) and the Israel Innovation Authority, to receive a joint research grant under the Eurostars program, for the clinical development of the company’s technology for the treatment of diabetes, together with the medical device developed by Defymed. [Kadimastem Ltd.] Press Release

Diabetes Targeted in New Bioengineering Research at Clemson University

The Clemson research will be led by Agneta Simionescu, an associate professor in the bioengineering department. She announced that the National Institutes of Health is providing $1.38 million for her research. [Clemson University] Press Release

Be Open about Drug Failures to Speed up Research

Access to evidence from disappointing drug-development programs advances the whole scientific process, explain Enrica Alteri and Lorenzo Guizzaro. [Nature News] Editorial

How Facebook and Twitter Could Be the Next Disruptive Force in Clinical Trials

Participants in medical research are more empowered than ever to influence the design and outcomes of experiments. Now, researchers are trying to keep up. [Nature News] Editorial

More Researchers Denied UK Entry to Attend Meetings

A number of researchers seeking to attend scientific and medical meetings in the UK in recent weeks have had their visa applications denied by the British government. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW AACR International Conference New Horizons in Cancer Research
May 3-5, 2019
Shenzhen, China

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

NEW PhD Positions – Cancer Biology (Technical University of Munich)

Bench Research Fellowship – Cardiovascular Disease (Brigham & Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Position – Lung and Pancreatic Cancers (University of California San Francisco)

Research Associate/PhD Student – Pancreatic Beta Cell Biology (Technische Universität Dresden)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Diabetes (A*STAR)

PhD Studentship – Pancreatic Cancer (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Islet Biology and Diabetes (Vanderbilt University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Epithelial Carcinogenesis (Spanish National Cancer Research Centre)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Islet Biology (University of Alberta)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Identifying Cell Surface Receptor (Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)

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

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