Cisplatin exposure dysregulates insulin secretion in male and female mice.

Cancer survivors have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to the general population. Patients treated with cisplatin, a common chemotherapeutic agent, are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes than age- and sex-matched controls. Surprisingly, the impact of cisplatin on pancreatic islets has not been reported.

TMEM55A-mediated PI5P signaling regulates α-cell actin depolymerization and glucagon secretion.

Diabetes is associated with the dysfunction of glucagon-producing pancreatic islet α-cells, although the underlying mechanisms regulating glucagon secretion and α-cell dysfunction remain unclear. While insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells has long been known to be partly controlled by intracellular phospholipid signaling, very little is known about the role of phospholipids in glucagon secretion. Here we show that TMEM55A, a lipid phosphatase that dephosphorylates phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate (PI5P), regulates α-cell exocytosis and glucagon secretion.

Scalable Bioreactor-based Suspension Approach to Generate Stem Cell-derived Islets From Healthy Donor-derived iPSCs.

Background: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer the potential to generate autologous iPSC-derived islets (iPSC islets), however, remain limited by scalability and product safety.

Methods: Herein, we report stagewise characterization of cells generated following a bioreactor-based differentiation protocol. Cell characteristics were assessed using flow cytometry, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, patch clamping, functional assessment, and in vivo functional and immunohistochemistry evaluation.

High recent PrEP adherence with point-of-care urine tenofovir testing and adherence counselling among young African women: results from the INSIGHT cohort.

Introduction: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) account for two-thirds of new HIV infections in Africa. African AGYW have had high uptake of oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) but low adherence, which might be improved by point-of-care adherence monitoring with tailored counselling.

Methods: From August 2022 to July 2023, we conducted a PrEP demonstration project with sexually active AGYW ages 16-30 years from 20 sites in South Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia.