Trefoil Factor 2 Expressed by the Murine Pancreatic Acinar Cells Is Required for the Development of Islets and for β-Cell Function During Aging.

Exocrine-to-endocrine cross talk in the pancreas is crucial to maintain β-cell function. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this cross talk are largely undefined. Trefoil factor 2 (Tff2) is a secreted factor known to promote the proliferation of β-cells in vitro, but its physiological role in vivo in the pancreas is unknown.

Activation of ductal progenitor-like cells from adult human pancreas requires extracellular matrix protein signaling.

Ductal progenitor-like cells are a sub-population of ductal cells in the adult human pancreas that have the potential to contribute to regenerative medicine. However, the microenvironmental cues that regulate their activation are poorly understood. Here, we establish a 3-dimensional suspension culture system containing six defined soluble factors in which primary human ductal progenitor-like and ductal non-progenitor cells survive but do not proliferate.

Rare, Tightly-Bound, Multi-Cellular Clusters in the Pancreatic Ducts of Adult Mice Function Like Progenitor Cells and Survive and Proliferate After Acinar Cell Injury.

Pancreatic ductal progenitor cells have been proposed to contribute to adult tissue maintenance and regeneration after injury, but the identity of such ductal cells remains elusive. Here, from adult mice, we identify a near homogenous population of ductal progenitor-like clusters, with an average of 8 cells per cluster. They are a rare subpopulation, about 0.

Thrombospondin-1, CD47, and SIRPα display cell-specific molecular signatures in human islets and pancreata.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is a secreted protein minimally expressed in health but increased in disease and age. TSP1 binds to the cell membrane receptor CD47, which itself engages signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα), and the latter creates a checkpoint for immune activation. Individuals with cancer administered checkpoint-blocking molecules developed insulin-dependent diabetes.

Breaking and restoring immune tolerance to pancreatic beta-cells in type 1 diabetes.

Purpose Of Review: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from the loss of immune tolerance to pancreatic beta-cells leading to their destruction. Immune intervention therapies tested in T1D so far delayed progression but failed to restore tolerance, which partly explains their lack of durable clinical efficacy.

Recent Findings: The role of beta-cells and islets themselves in dialogue with their micro- and macro-environment including the immune system and the intestinal microbiome is increasingly evident.

Enzyme Replacement Therapy in a Gaucher Family.

Gaucher disease is a lipid storage disorder due to deficiency of beta glucocerebrosidase. It's an autosomal recessive disease and as a result of this enzyme deficiency, glucocerebroside accumulates in various types of tissues like liver, brain spleen and bone marrow. We aimed to describe the effects of enzyme replacement therapy in three members of a family with Gaucher disease and to emphasize screening of the family members of the patients with Gaucher disease.

Serum Zinc Levels in Iron Deficient Women: A Case-Control Study.

Since similar symptoms and findings can be seen in the deficiencies of both iron and zinc, we aimed to evaluate the serum zinc levels of women with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This study was conducted with women with iron deficiency and a healthy control group. When serum zinc levels were compared, they were found to be lower in the IDA group, which was statistically significant.