Pancreatic fat accumulation, fibrosis, and acinar cell injury in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat fed a chronic high-fat diet

Fatty Pancreas: Should We Be Concerned?

The metabolic consequences of visceral fat deposition are well known, and the presence of intrapancreatic fat (IPF) has been recognized for decades. However, our knowledge about the distribution of fat in the pancreas and its clinical implications is in a nascent stage. Various terms have been proposed to describe IPF; for the purpose of this narrative review, we chose the general term fatty pancreas. Herein, we describe the radiologic, endoscopic, and histopathologic aspects of diagnosing fatty pancreas and provide an overview of the diseases associated with this condition. Our purpose is to highlight diagnostic challenges and identify specific clinical questions that would benefit from further study. As evident in this review, IPF is associated with various metabolic diseases, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and precancer-yet establishing causality needs careful, further study.

Pancreatic hyperechogenicity associated with hypoadiponectinemia and insulin resistance: A Japanese population study

AIM

To examine the relationship between pancreatic hyperechogenicity and risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

A general population-based survey of lifestyle-related diseases was conducted from 2005 to 2006 in Japan. The study involved 551 participants older than 40 year of age. Data for 472 non-diabetic adults were included in the analysis. The measures included the demographic factors, blood parameters, results of a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, and abdominal ultrasonography. The echogenicity of the pancreas and liver was compared, and then the subjects were separated into two groups: cases with pancreatic hyperechogenicity (n = 208) and cases without (controls, n = 264). The differences between both groups were compared using an unpaired t-test or Fisher’s exact test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the pancreatic hyperechogenicity and clinical and biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

Subjects with pancreatic hyperechogenicity had decreased serum adiponectin concentration compared to control subjects [8.9 (6.5, 12.8) vs 11.1 (7.8, 15.9), P < 0.001] and more frequently exhibited features of metabolic syndrome. Logistic regression analysis showed that the following variables were significantly and independently associated with pancreatic hyperechogenicity: Presence of hypoadiponectinemia, increased body mass index (BMI), higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score, and presence of fatty liver. Similar associations were also observed in subjects with pancreatic hyperechogenicity without fatty liver. Multivariate association analysis of data from participants without fatty liver showed that hypoadiponectinemia was significantly associated with pancreatic hyperechogenicity (OR = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.90 - 0.97, P < 0.001). This association was independent of other confounding variables. Additionally, an increased BMI and higher HOMA-IR score were significantly associated with pancreatic hyperechogenicity.

CONCLUSION

Pancreatic hyperechogenicity is independently associated with increased BMI, insulin resistance, and hypoadiponectinemia in the general population.

Exploring the metabolic syndrome: Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease

After the first description of fatty pancreas in 1933, the effects of pancreatic steatosis have been poorly investigated, compared with that of the liver. However, the interest of research is increasing. Fat accumulation, associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS), has been defined as “fatty infiltration” or “nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease” (NAFPD). The term “fatty replacement” describes a distinct phenomenon characterized by death of acinar cells and replacement by adipose tissue. Risk factors for developing NAFPD include obesity, increasing age, male sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, alcohol and hyperferritinemia. Increasing evidence support the role of pancreatic fat in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, MetS, atherosclerosis, severe acute pancreatitis and even pancreatic cancer. Evidence exists that fatty pancreas could be used as the initial indicator of “ectopic fat deposition”, which is a key element of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and/or MetS. Moreover, in patients with fatty pancreas, pancreaticoduodenectomy is associated with an increased risk of intraoperative blood loss and post-operative pancreatic fistula.

Pancreas Volume and Fat Deposition in Diabetes and Normal Physiology: Consideration of the Interplay Between Endocrine and Exocrine Pancreas

The pancreas is comprised of exocrine and endocrine components. Despite the fact that they are derived from a common origin in utero, these two compartments are often studied individually because of the different roles and functions of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas. Recent studies have shown that not only type 1 diabetes (T1D), but also type 2 diabetes (T2D), is characterized by a deficit in beta-cell mass, suggesting that pathological changes in the pancreas are critical events in the natural history of diabetes. In both patients with T1D and those with T2D, pancreas mass and exocrine function have been reported to be reduced. On the other hand, pancreas volume and pancreatic fat increase with obesity. Increased beta-cell mass with increasing obesity has also been observed in humans, and ectopic fat deposits in the pancreas have been reported to cause beta-cell dysfunction. Moreover, neogenesis and transdifferentiation from the exocrine to the endocrine compartment in the postnatal period are regarded as a source of newly formed beta-cells. These findings suggest that there is important interplay between the endocrine and exocrine pancreas throughout life. This review summarizes the current knowledge on physiological and pathological changes in the exocrine and endocrine pancreas (i.e., beta-cell mass), and discusses the potential mechanisms of the interplay between the two compartments in humans to understand the pathophysiology of diabetes better.

Obesity-Induced Inflammation and Desmoplasia Promote Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Resistance to Chemotherapy

It remains unclear how obesity worsens treatment outcomes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In normal pancreas, obesity promotes inflammation and fibrosis. We found in mouse models of PDAC that obesity also promotes desmoplasia associated with accelerated tumor growth and impaired delivery/efficacy of chemotherapeutics through reduced perfusion. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of angiotensin-II type-1 receptor reverses obesity-augmented desmoplasia and tumor growth and improves response to chemotherapy. Augmented activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) in obesity is induced by tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN) recruited by adipocyte-secreted IL1β. PSCs further secrete IL1β, and inactivation of PSCs reduces IL1β expression and TAN recruitment. Furthermore, depletion of TANs, IL1β inhibition, or inactivation of PSCs prevents obesity-accelerated tumor growth. In patients with pancreatic cancer, we confirmed that obesity is associated with increased desmoplasia and reduced response to chemotherapy. We conclude that cross-talk between adipocytes, TANs, and PSCs exacerbates desmoplasia and promotes tumor progression in obesity.

SIGNIFICANCE

Considering the current obesity pandemic, unraveling the mechanisms underlying obesity-induced cancer progression is an urgent need. We found that the aggravation of desmoplasia is a key mechanism of obesity-promoted PDAC progression. Importantly, we discovered that clinically available antifibrotic/inflammatory agents can improve the treatment response of PDAC in obese hosts. Cancer Discov; 6(8); 852-69. ©2016 AACR.See related commentary by Bronte and Tortora, p. 821This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 803.

Maternal obesity alters endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis in offspring pancreas

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) is increasing in parallel with obesity rates. Stress-related alterations in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), such as the unfolded protein response (UPR), are associated with obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate ER imbalance in the pancreas of a mice model of adult and perinatal diet-induced obesity. Twenty female C57BL/6J mice were assigned to control (Con) or obesogenic (Ob) diets prior to and during pregnancy and lactation. Their offspring were weaned onto Con or Ob diets up to 6 months post-partum. Then, after sacrifice, plasma biochemical analyses, gene expression, and protein concentrations were measured in pancreata. Offspring of Ob-fed mice had significantly increased body weight (p < 0.001) and plasma leptin (p < 0.001) and decreased insulin (p < 0.01) levels. Maternal obesogenic diet decreased the total and phosphorylated Eif2α and increased spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1). Pancreatic gene expression of downstream regulators of UPR (EDEM, homocysteine-responsive endoplasmic reticulum-resident (HERP), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)) and autophagy-related proteins (LC3BI/LC3BII) were differently disrupted by obesogenic feeding in both mothers and offspring (from p < 0.1 to p < 0.001). Maternal obesity and Ob feeding in their offspring alter UPR in NAFPD, with involvement of proapoptotic and autophagy-related markers. Upstream and downstream regulators of PERK, IRE1α, and ATF6 pathways were affected differently following the obesogenic insults.

The Langerhans islet cells of female rabbits are differentially affected by hypothyroidism depending on the islet size

Effects of hypothyroidism on the glucose and insulin levels are controversial, and its impact on the Langerhans islet morphology of adult subjects has been poorly addressed. In spite of hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus are more frequent in females than in males, most studies using animal models have been done in males. The effect of hypothyroidism on the immunolabeling of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) and thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) of islet cells is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hypothyroidism on the glucose and insulin concentrations, morphometry of islets, and immunostaining of TRs α1-2 and β1 and TSHR of islet cells in female rabbits. Control and hypothyroid (0.02% of methimazole for 30 days) animals were used to quantify blood levels of glucose and insulin, density of islets, cross-sectional area (CSA) of islets, number of cells per islet, cell proliferation, and the immunolabeling of TRs α1-2, TRβ1, and TSHR. Student's t or Mann-Whitney-U tests, two-way ANOVAs, and Fischer's tests were applied. Concentrations of glucose and insulin, as well as the insulin resistance were similar between groups. Hypothyroidism did not affect the density or the CSA of islets. The analysis of islets by size showed that hypothyroidism reduced the cell number in large and medium islets, but not in small ones. In small islets, cell proliferation was increased. The immunoreactivity of TRα1-2, TRβ1, and TSHR was increased by hypothyroidism in all islet sizes. Our results show that hypothyroidism affects differentially the islet cells depending on the size of islets.

Fat, epigenome and pancreatic diseases. Interplay and common pathways from a toxic and obesogenic environment

The worldwide obesity epidemic is paralleled by a rise in the incidence of pancreatic disorders ranging from "fatty" pancreas to pancreatitis and cancer. Body fat accumulation and pancreatic dysfunctions have common pathways, mainly acting through insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation, frequently mediated by the epigenome. These mechanisms are affected by lifestyle and by the toxic effects of fat and pollutants. An early origin is common, starting in pediatric age or during the fetal life in response to nutritional factors, endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) or parental exposure to toxics. A "fatty pancreas" is frequent in obese and is able to induce pancreatic damage. The fat is a target of EDCs and of the cytotoxic/mutagenic effects of heavy metals, and is the site of bioaccumulation of lipophilic and persistent pollutants related with insulin resistance and able to promote pancreatic cancer. Increased Body Mass Index (BMI) can act as independent risk factor for a more severe course of acute pancreatitis and obesity is also a well-known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, that is related with BMI, insulin resistance, and duration of exposure to the toxic effects of fat and/or of environmental pollutants. All these mechanisms involve gene-environment interactions through epigenetic factors, and might be manipulated by primary prevention measures. Further studies are needed, pointing to better assess the interplays of modifiable factors on both obesity and pancreatic diseases, and to verify the efficacy of primary prevention strategies involving lifestyle and environmental exposure to toxics.