BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:VideoCast CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Beta Cell ERKonomics. Functions of ERK1/2 in Pancreatic Beta Cells DTSTART:20120530T190000Z DTEND:20120530T200000Z DTSTAMP:20120611T160000Z UID:Videocast--10526 LOCATION:http://videocast.nih.gov DESCRIPTION:Melanie H. Cobb\, Ph.D.\, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center\nDiabetes mellitus is a huge health burden due to decreased quality of life and the escalating cost of treatment. Obesity\, insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities in liver\, adipose\, and muscle are important factors in disease. Most of the gene loci recently found associated with type 2 diabetes\, however\, encode proteins that enable insulin production from pancreatic beta cells. Nutrients and hormones regulate not only insulin secretion\, but also the capacity of b cells to continue to produce insulin. During the onset of diabetes\, pancreatic beta cells become unable to produce sufficient insulin to maintain blood glucose within the normal range. Among important nutrient-sensing pathways are the mitogen-activated protein kinases\, ERK1/2. These protein kinases are essential for nutrient-stimulated insulin gene transcription\, and also contribute to reduced nutrient-induced insulin gene transcription following long term hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia combined with proinflammatory cytokines. The core ERK1/2 cascade kinases are associated with the insulin gene and we are examining how they act on the insulin gene promoter. We are also examining molecular mechanisms of action of small molecules that enhance b-cell function. These molecules stimulate insulin production by b cells\, improve oral glucose tolerance of mice\, and restore insulin production by human islets in long term culture. We have identified a number of changes that take place in b cells treated with these drugs\, including epigenetic alterations\, and changes in concentrations of key transcription factors. These small molecules may offer promise for future diabetic therapies.\n\nThe NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series includes weekly scientific talks by some of the top researchers in the biomedical sciences worldwide. \n\nFor more information\, visit: \nThe http://wals.od.nih.gov NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\n\n\n

Author: Melanie H. Cobb\, Ph.D.\, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Description: Diabetes mellitus is a huge health burden due to decreased quality of life and the escalating cost of treatment. Obesity\, insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities in liver\, adipose\, and muscle are important factors in disease. Most of the gene loci recently found associated with type 2 diabetes\, however\, encode proteins that enable insulin production from pancreatic beta cells. Nutrients and hormones regulate not only insulin secretion\, but also the capacity of b cells to continue to produce insulin. During the onset of diabetes\, pancreatic beta cells become unable to produce sufficient insulin to maintain blood glucose within the normal range. Among important nutrient-sensing pathways are the mitogen-activated protein kinases\, ERK1/2. These protein kinases are essential for nutrient-stimulated insulin gene transcription\, and also contribute to reduced nutrient-induced insulin gene transcription following long term hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia combined with proinflammatory cytokines. The core ERK1/2 cascade kinases are associated with the insulin gene and we are examining how they act on the insulin gene promoter. We are also examining molecular mechanisms of action of small molecules that enhance b-cell function. These molecules stimulate insulin production by b cells\, improve oral glucose tolerance of mice\, and restore insulin production by human islets in long term culture. We have identified a number of changes that take place in b cells treated with these drugs\, including epigenetic alterations\, and changes in concentrations of key transcription factors. These small molecules may offer promise for future diabetic therapies.

The NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series includes weekly scientific talks by some of the top researchers in the biomedical sciences worldwide.

For more information\, visit:
The NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series

CIT Live ID: 10526

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