Abstract: It was discovered that NF-?B signaling pathway plays a central role in pancreatitis, and inhibition of NF-?B signaling has the potential to reduce the incidence of pancreatitis and protect pancreatic tissues from inflammatory damage. Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for inhibiting or treating pancreatitis in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an NF-?B signaling pathway inhibitor to the subject.

Abstract: It was discovered that NF-?B signaling pathway plays a central role in pancreatitis, and inhibition of NF-?B signaling has the potential to reduce the incidence of pancreatitis and protect pancreatic tissues from inflammatory damage. Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for inhibiting or treating pancreatitis in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an NF-?B signaling pathway inhibitor to the subject.

Abstract: Method and compositions for reducing the inflammation after cytokine exposure of an islet cell transplant without affecting the viability and potency are disclosed herein. The present invention describes a composition comprising Withaferin A (WA), a steroidal lactone derived from Withania somnifera to effectively block NF-kB activation in beta cells, minimize cytokine-induced cell death and improve survival of transplanted islets. The method of the present invention involves identifying a subject having islet cells in need of treatment; and providing a effective amount of a Withaferin A composition disposed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount sufficient to reduce the inflammation after cytokine exposure without affecting the viability and potency of the islet cell population.

Abstract: Methods for generating pancreatic stem cells from a pancreatic tissue of 24-week old mice by transient overexpression of reprogramming factors combined with Pdx1 selection is described herein. The generated cells were designated as iPaS (induced pancreatic stem) cells and exhibit the same morphology as the pancreatic stem cells previously established from young donors without genetic manipulation and express genetic markers of endoderm and pancreatic progenitors. Transplantation of the iPaS cells into nude mice resulted in no teratoma formation. Moreover, iPaS cells were able to differentiate into insulin-producing cells more efficiently than ES cells. In addition, the technology of transient overexpression of reprogramming factors and tissue-specific selection of the present invention may also be useful for the generation of other tissue-specific stem cells.

Abstract: Method and compositions for reducing the inflammation after cytokine exposure of an islet cell transplant without affecting the viability and potency are disclosed herein. The present invention describes a composition comprising Withaferin A (WA), a steroidal lactone derived from Withania somnifera to effectively block NF-kB activation in beta cells, minimize cytokine-induced cell death and improve survival of transplanted islets. The method of the present invention involves identifying a subject having islet cells in need of treatment; and providing a effective amount of a Withaferin A composition disposed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount sufficient to reduce the inflammation after cytokine exposure without affecting the viability and potency of the islet cell population.