Altered neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with non-affective first episode psychosis and its relationship with symptom severity and cognitive impairment.

Signatures of immune dysregulation as clinical biomarker for psychosis have remained unclear. We aimed to compare the Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of patients with acute non-affective first-episode psychosis (FEP) with healthy controls after accounting for emotional states. We also explored the associations of NLR with symptom severity, onset profile and cognitive functions.

NADPH Oxidase-Dependent Reactive Oxygen Species Stimulate β-Cell Regeneration Through Differentiation of Endocrine Progenitors in Murine Pancreas.

Aims: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as second messengers for redox modification of transcription factors essential for differentiation. The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, a major source of ROS, has been shown to regulate differentiation of various progenitor cells, while its role in pancreatic endocrine cell differentiation is unclear. This study was aimed at this knowledge gap.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor regulates the development of pancreatic endocrine cells in mouse embryos.

Background: We previously identified a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) regulating the differentiation of an isolated population of human pancreatic progenitor cells. Major RAS components that regulate organogenesis have been also described in embryos; however, it is not known whether a local RAS is present in the fetal pancreas. We now hypothesize that angiotensin II type 1 (AT1 ) and type 2 (AT2 ) receptors are expressed in mouse embryonic pancreas and involved in regulating endocrine cell development.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor is critical for the development of human fetal pancreatic progenitor cells into islet-like cell clusters and their potential for transplantation.

Local renin-angiotensin systems (RASs) regulate the differentiation of tissue progenitors. However, it is not known whether such systems can regulate the development of pancreatic progenitor cells (PPCs). To address this issue, we characterized the expression profile of major RAS components in human fetal PPC preparations and examined their effects on the differentiation of PPCs into functional islet-like cell clusters (ICCs).

Reduced immunogenicity of pancreatic progenitor cells derived from first-trimester human fetal pancreas.

The relatively low immunogenic and tumorigenic nature of fetal stem cells makes them attractive candidates for transplantation. Pancreatic progenitor cells (PPCs) derived from human fetal pancreas that are amenable to growth and differentiation into transplantable insulin-producing islet-like cell clusters (ICCs) have been reported recently; however, the immunological nature of these cells has yet to be characterized. We thus investigated and compared the immunogenicity of pancreatic progenitor cells and islet-like cell clusters from first- and second-trimester human fetal pancreas.

Vitamin D and vitamin A receptor expression and the proliferative effects of ligand activation of these receptors on the development of pancreatic progenitor cells derived from human fetal pancreas.

The growth and development of pancreatic islet cells are regulated by various morphogens. Vitamin A modulates in vitro differentiation of islet cells and vitamin D affects beta-cell insulin secretion, while both vitamin ligands act through heterodimerization with the retinoid X receptor (RXR). However, their effects in modulating pancreatic development have not been determined.

PDZ-domain containing-2 (PDZD2) drives the maturity of human fetal pancreatic progenitor-derived islet-like cell clusters with functional responsiveness against membrane depolarization.

We recently reported the isolation and characterization of a population of pancreatic progenitor cells (PPCs) from early trimester human fetal pancreata. The PPCs, being the forerunners of adult pancreatic cell lineages, were amenable to growth and differentiation into insulin-secreting islet-like cell clusters (ICCs) upon stimulation by adequate morphogens. Of note, a novel morphogenic factor, PDZ-domain containing-2 (PDZD2) and its secreted form (sPDZD2) were ubiquitously expressed in the PPCs.

Effects of hyperglycemia on angiotensin II receptor type 1 expression and insulin secretion in an INS-1E pancreatic beta-cell line.

Context: A local pancreatic islet renin-angiotensin system has been identified and found to be upregulated in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Inhibition of this system improves beta-cell function and structure. The effects of hyperglycemia, a condition observed in diabetes, on angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression and beta-cell secretory function have yet to be explored.