Staff Profile

Background

I am a lecturer working within the Bioscience Institute and my work contributes to the Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Transplantation theme. My group focuses on understanding why pancreatic islets fail during the development of type 2 diabetes. My interest in diabetes research began during my PhD and I have continued to research within this field throughout my career.

Qualifications

PhD in Biochemistry - Newcastle University, UK

BSc(hons) in Biomedical Sciences - Hull University, UK

Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Previous Positions

2021-Present: Lecturer

2014-2021: Newcastle University Research Fellow

2008-2013: RD Lawrence Research Fellow, Newcastle University

2007: EMBO/EFSD Travel Fellow, University of Michigan, USA

2004-2007: Research Associate, Newcastle University

Research Interests

The overarching research within our groups aims to understand the critical mechanisms involved in the maintenance of functioning pancreatic islets and also explores how these pathways are disrupted in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our research falls into two main research areas:

i) Delineating the pathways mediating cell survival. vs demise in type 2 diabetes;

ii) Identifying mechanisms for preserving the metabolic function of pancreatic beta-cells.

These areas are particularly relevant given the loss of beta-cell function and increased cell death evident in type 2 diabetes. 

Our current research asks:

1) How is macroautophagy regulated by glucose metabolism in pancreatic beta-cells? (funded by EFSD) - Amelia Williams (Research Assistant).

2) Does NAPDH oxidase contribute to pancreatic beta-cell demise in type 2 diabetes? (funded by Diabetes UK) - Alisha Gibbs (PhD student).

3) Does mitochondrial dysfunction impact on pancreatic islet function and composition, and is there a link with age-dependent diabetes? (funded by Newcastle University) - Alana Mullins (PhD student).

4) Do xenobiotics present in our environment impact on pancreatic beta-cell function? - Salma Tarfaya (International PhD student).

We thank our past and current funders including:

Diabetes UK; European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes; Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation; Wellcome Trust; Newcastle Healthcare Charity, North East Diabetes Trust; Royal Society; EMBO; MRC/Faculty of Medical Sciences PhD studentships.

Fellowship (FHEA), Advanced Higher Education Academy

Undergraduate Teaching

Lecturer on PSC2002 Membrane Transport and Cell Signalling in Health and Disease.

Lecturer on BMG3065 Biochemistry of Cancer and Chronic Disease.

Supervisor for final year UG student laboratory projects.

Tutor for UG biomedicine students.

Postgraduate Teaching

Programme/module lead for MMB8035 Diabetes.

Lecturer on MMB8022 Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells.

Lecturer on MMB8050 Therapeutic Applications of Cell Signalling Pathways.

Supervisor for MRes/MSci laboratory projects.

Supervisor of PhD students.

Internal and External PhD examiner.

Mentor for PGR research students (NUBI).

• Articles

  • Bakhashab S, O'Neill J, Barber R, Arden C, Weaver JU. Upregulation of Anti-Angiogenic miR-106b-3p Correlates Negatively with IGF-1 and Vascular Health Parameters in a Model of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease: Study with Metformin Therapy. Biomedicines 2024, 12(1), 171.
  • Bakhashab S, Barber R, O'Neill J, Arden C, Weaver JU. Overexpression of miR-199b-5p in Colony Forming Unit-Hill’s Colonies Positively Mediates the Inflammatory Response in Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease Model: Metformin Therapy Attenuates Its Expression. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024, 25(15), 8087.
  • Cornell D, Miwa S, Georgiou M, Anderson SJ, Honkanen-Scott M, Shaw JAM, Arden C. Pseudoislet aggregation of pancreatic β-cells improves glucose stimulated insulin secretion by altering glucose metabolism and increasing ATP production. Cells 2022, 11(15), 2330.
  • Yu X, Arden C, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Chen C, Bradshaw C, Smith AL, Whitehall J, White M, Anderson S, Kattner N, Shaw J, Turnbull D, Greaves LC, Walker M. Mitochondrial complex I subunit deficiency promotes pancreatic α-cell proliferation. Molecular Metabolism 2022, 60, 101489.
  • Zummo FP, Krishnanda SI, Georgiou M, O'Harte FPM, Parthsarathy V, Cullen KS, Honkanen-Scott M, Shaw JAM, Lovat PE, Arden C. Exendin-4 stimulates autophagy in pancreatic β-cells via the RAPGEF/EPAC-Ca2+-PPP3/calcineurin-TFEB axis. Autophagy 2022, 18(4), 799-815.
  • Thomas P, Arden C, Corcoran J, Hacker C, Welters HJ, Morgan NG. Differential routing and disposition of the long-chain saturated fatty acid palmitate in rodent vs human beta-cells. Nutrition & diabetes 2022, 12, 22. In Preparation.
  • Moonira T, Chachra SS, Ford BE, Marin S, Alshawi A, Adam-Primus NS, Arden C, Al-Oanzi ZH, Foretz M, Viollet B, Cascante M, Agius L. Metformin lowers glucose 6-phosphate in hepatocytes by activation of glycolysis downstream of glucose phosphorylation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2020, 295(10), 3330-3346.
  • Dhayal S, Zummo FP, Anderson MW, Thomas P, Welters H, Arden C, Morgan PN. Differential effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on autophagy in pancreatic β-cells. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 2019, 63(4), 285-296.
  • Arden C. A role for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 in the regulation of β-cell autophagy. Peptides 2018, 100, 85-93.
  • Al-Oanzi ZH, Fountana S, Moonira T, Tudhope SJ, Petrie JL, Alshawi A, Patman G, Arden C, Reeves HL, Agius L. Opposite effects of a glucokinase activator and metformin on glucose-regulated gene expression in hepatocytes. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 2017, 19(8), 1078-1087.
  • Zummo FP, Cullen KS, Honkanen-Scott M, Shaw JAM, Lovat PE, Arden C. Glucagon-like peptide-1 protects pancreatic beta-cells from death by increasing autophagic flux and restoring lysosomal function. Diabetes 2017, 66(5), 1272-1285.
  • Cullen KS, Al-Oanzi ZH, O'Harte FPM, Agius L, Arden C. Glucagon induces translocation of glucokinase from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of hepatocytes by transfer between 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase-2 and the glucokinase regulatory protein. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research 2014, 1843(6), 1123-1134.
  • Petrie JL, Al-Oanzi ZH, Arden C, Tudhope SJ, Mann J, Kieswich J, Yaqoob MM, Towle HC, Agius L. Glucose induces protein targeting to glycogen in hepatocytes by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate-mediated recruitment of MondoA to the promoter. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2013, 33(4), 725-738.
  • Arden C, Tudhope SJ, Petrie JL, Al-Oanzi ZH, Cullen KS, Lange AJ, Towle HC, Agius L. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is essential for glucose-regulated genetranscription of glucose-6-phosphatase and other ChREBP target genes inhepatocytes. Biochemical Journal 2012, 443(1), 111-123.
  • Tudhope SJ, Wang CC, Petrie JL, Potts L, Malcomson F, Kieswich J, Yaqoob MM, Arden C, Hampson LJ, Agius L. A Novel Mechanism for Regulating Hepatic Glycogen Synthesis Involving Serotonin and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-5. Diabetes 2012, 61(1), 49-60.
  • Cullen KS, Matschinsky FM, Agius L, Arden C. Susceptibility of Glucokinase-MODY Mutants to Inactivation by Oxidative Stress in Pancreatic β-Cells. Diabetes 2011, 60(12), 3175-3185.
  • Arden C, Petrie JL, Tudhope SJ, Al-Oanzi Z, Claydon AJ, Beynon RJ, Towle HC, Agius L. Elevated glucose represses liver glucokinase and induces its regulatory protein to safeguard hepatic phosphate homeostasis. Diabetes 2011, 60(12), 3110-3120.
  • Mukhtar MH, Payne VA, Arden C, Harbottle A, Khan S, Lange AJ, Agius L. Inhibition of glucokinase translocation by AMP-activated protein kinase is associated with phosphorylation of both GKRP and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/ fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 2008, 294(3), R766-R774.
  • Arden C, Hampson L, Huang G, Shaw J, Aldibbiat A, Holliman G, Manas D, Khan S, Lange A, Agius L. A role for PFK-2/FBPase-2, as distinct from fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, in regulation of insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. Biochemical Journal 2008, 411(1), 41-51.
  • Payne VA, Arden C, Lange AJ, Agius L. Contributions of glucokinase and phosphofructokinase-2/fructose bisphosphatase-2 to the elevated glycolysis in hepatocytes from Zucker fa/fa rats. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology 2007, 293(2), R618-R625.
  • Arden C, Trainer A, De La Iglesia N, Scougall KT, Gloyn AL, Lange AJ, Shaw J, Matschinsky FM, Agius L. Cell biology assessment of glucokinase mutations V62M and G72R in pancreatic β-cells: Evidence for cellular instability of catalytic activity. Diabetes 2007, 56(7), 1773-1782.
  • Aiston S, Hampson LJ, Arden C, Iynedjian PB, Agius L. The role of protein kinase B/Akt in insulin-induced inactivation of phosphorylase in rat hepatocytes. Diabetologia 2006, 49(1), 174-182.
  • Arden C, Green AR, Hampson LJ, Aiston S, Harndahl L, Greenberg CC, Brady MJ, Freeman S, Poucher SM, Agius L. Increased sensitivity of glycogen synthesis to phosphorylase-a and impaired expression of the glycogen-targeting protein R6 in hepatocytes from insulin-resistant Zucker fa/fa rats. FEBS Journal 2006, 273(9), 1989-1999.
  • Arden C, Baltrusch S, Agius L. Glucokinase regulatory protein is associated with mitochondria in hepatocytes. FEBS Letters 2006, 580(8), 2065-2070.
  • Hampson LJ, Arden C, Agius L, Ganotidis M, Kosmopoulou MN, Tiraidis C, Elemes Y, Sakarellos C, Leonidas DD, Oikonomakos NG. Bioactivity of glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors that bind to the purine nucleoside site. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry 2006, 14(23), 7835-7845.
  • Payne VA, Arden C, Wu C, Lange AJ, Agius L. Dual role of phosphofructokinase-2/fructose bisphosphatase-2 in regulating the compartmentation and expression of glucokinase in hepatocytes. Diabetes 2005, 54(7), 1949-1957.
  • Arden C, Harboottle A, Baltrusch S, Tiedge M, Agius L. Glucokinase is an integral component of the insulin granules in glucose-responsive insulin secretory cells and does not translocate during glucose stimulation. Diabetes 2004, 53(9), 2346-2352.

• Book Chapter

  • Williams AW, Georgiou MG, Arden CA. Autophagy in the pancreas. In: Rothermel B; Diwan A, ed. Autophagy in Health and Disease. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science, 2021, pp.197-212.

• Review

  • Arden C, Park SH, Yasasilka XR, Lee EY, Lee M-S. Autophagy and lysosomal dysfunction in diabetes and its complications. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism 2024, ePub ahead of Print.