Src kinases play a novel dual role in acute pancreatitis affecting severity but no role in stimulated enzyme secretion

A risk model for parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease in patients with severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The aim of this study is to explore the risk factors for parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) in patients with severe acute pancreatitis by establishing a verification risk model.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 176 patients with severe acute pancreatitis from January 2019 to August 2021, were assigned into the observation group (n = 88) and control group (n = 88) based on the diagnostic results of PNALD, randomly. Their clinical data were recorded. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), etc., were detected. The logistic model and desicion tree model were used to analyze the risk factors.

RESULTS

Patients in the observation group had higher levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, and lower level of ALP than those of control group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that alcohol intake history, ALT ≥69.65 U/L, AST ≥71.27 U/L, TBIL ≥26.27 μmol/L and ALP ≤45.11 U/L were risk factors for PNALD. The levels of ALT and AST in observation group were two times as high as those in the control group, which conformed to the Danan's criteria and accorded with the results of univariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

The regression model showed high consistency with the decision tree model in the prediction of risk factors. Alcohol intake history, ALT ≥69.65 U/L, AST ≥71.27 U/L, TBIL ≥26.27 μmol/L and ALP ≤45.11 U/L are risk factors for PNALD.

Pancreatic Cancer and Its Microenvironment-Recent Advances and Current Controversies

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) causes annually well over 400,000 deaths world-wide and remains one of the major unresolved health problems. This exocrine pancreatic cancer originates from the mutated epithelial cells: acinar and ductal cells. However, the epithelia-derived cancer component forms only a relatively small fraction of the tumor mass. The majority of the tumor consists of acellular fibrous stroma and diverse populations of the non-neoplastic cancer-associated cells. Importantly, the tumor microenvironment is maintained by dynamic cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. In this article, we aim to review the most common drivers of PDAC. Then we summarize the current knowledge on PDAC microenvironment, particularly in relation to pancreatic cancer therapy. The focus is placed on the acellular stroma as well as cell populations that inhabit the matrix. We also describe the altered metabolism of PDAC and characterize cellular signaling in this cancer.

Anisodamine alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced pancreatic acinar cell injury through NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB signaling pathway

Purpose: Anisodamine (An) has anti-inflammatory effects, but its role in acute pancreatitis is still unknown. This study aimed to explore the action mechanism of An pretreatment in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pancreatic acinar cells, hoping to provide a research basis for the disease treatment.Materials and methods: Pancreatic acinar cells were pretreated with An at different concentrations and then induced by LPS. The viability and apoptosis of the treated cells were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry. The releases of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, p65, and inhibitor of kappa B alpha (IκBα) in the treated cells were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay.Results: LPS promoted apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells, suppressed cell viability, increased TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 releases and the expression levels of TXNIP, ASC, NLRP3, Caspase-1, p-p65, and p-IκBα, however, such effects of LPS could be alleviated by An pretreatment with the strongest effect when the concentration of An was set at 100 μg/mL. Moreover, overexpressed NLRP3 aggravated the effects of LPS in pancreatic acinar cells, which could be reversed by pretreatment of 100 μg/mL An.Conclusion: An pretreatment attenuated LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response of pancreatic acinar cells through suppressing NLRP3 and inactivating NF-κB signaling pathway, thus, it could be explored as a potential therapy for treating acute pancreatitis.

Targeting the complexity of Src signalling in the tumour microenvironment of pancreatic cancer: from mechanism to therapy

Pancreatic cancer, a disease with extremely poor prognosis, has been notoriously resistant to virtually all forms of treatment. The dynamic crosstalk that occurs between tumour cells and the surrounding stroma, frequently mediated by intricate Src/FAK signalling, is increasingly recognised as a key player in pancreatic tumourigenesis, disease progression and therapeutic resistance. These important cues are fundamental for defining the invasive potential of pancreatic tumours, and several components of the Src and downstream effector signalling have been proposed as potent anticancer therapeutic targets. Consequently, numerous agents that block this complex network are being extensively investigated as potential antiinvasive and antimetastatic therapeutic agents for this disease. In this review, we will discuss the latest evidence of Src signalling in PDAC progression, fibrotic response and resistance to therapy. We will examine future opportunities for the development and implementation of more effective combination regimens, targeting key components of the oncogenic Src signalling axis, and in the context of a precision medicine-guided approach.

Ponatinib Protects Mice From Lethal Influenza Infection by Suppressing Cytokine Storm

Excessive inflammation associated with the uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokines is the main cause of death from influenza virus infection. Previous studies have indicated that inhibition of interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), or their cognate receptors has beneficial effects. Here, by using monocytic U937 cells that capable of secreting the three important cytokines during influenza A virus infection, we measured the inhibitory activities on the production of three cytokines of six anti-inflammatory compounds reported in other models of inflammation. We found that ponatinib had a highly inhibitory effect on the production of all three cytokines. We tested ponatinib in a mouse influenza model to assess its therapeutic effects with different doses and administration times and found that the delayed administration of ponatinib was protective against lethal influenza A virus infection without reducing virus titers. Therefore, we suggest that ponatinib may serve as a new immunomodulator in the treatment of influenza.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) Regulation of Pancreatic Acinar Cells: Physiological Actions and Signal Transduction Mechanisms

Pancreatic acinar cells synthesize and secrete about 20 digestive enzymes and ancillary proteins with the processes that match the supply of these enzymes to their need in digestion being regulated by a number of hormones (CCK, secretin and insulin), neurotransmitters (acetylcholine and VIP) and growth factors (EGF and IGF). Of these regulators, one of the most important and best studied is the gastrointestinal hormone, cholecystokinin (CCK). Furthermore, the acinar cell has become a model for seven transmembrane, heterotrimeric G protein coupled receptors to regulate multiple processes by distinct signal transduction cascades. In this review, we briefly describe the chemistry and physiology of CCK and then consider the major physiological effects of CCK on pancreatic acinar cells. The majority of the review is devoted to the physiologic signaling pathways activated by CCK receptors and heterotrimeric G proteins and the functions they affect. The pathways covered include the traditional second messenger pathways PLC-IP3-Ca²⁺ , DAG-PKC, and AC-cAMP-PKA/EPAC that primarily relate to secretion. Then there are the protein-protein interaction pathways Akt-mTOR-S6K, the three major MAPK pathways (ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK), and Ca²⁺ -calcineurin-NFAT pathways that primarily regulate non-secretory processes including biosynthesis and growth, and several miscellaneous pathways that include the Rho family small G proteins, PKD, FAK, and Src that may regulate both secretory and nonsecretory processes but are not as well understood. © 2019 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 9:535-564, 2019.

Angiotensin‑(1‑7) attenuates caerulein‑induced pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis

Extensive apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells frequently occurs in acute pancreatitis (AP), and has been identified to be closely associated with the decrease of pancreatic parenchymal cells and pancreatic damage. The present study aimed to investigate the possible effect of angiotensin (Ang)‑(1‑7) on caerulein (CAE)‑induced pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis. Mouse pancreatic acinar cancer cells (MPC‑83) were divided into 4 groups: Control group; CAE group; CAE + Ang‑(1‑7) group; and CAE + Ang‑(1‑7) antagonist (A779) group. The control group consisted of normal MPC‑83 cells without special treatment. The CAE group was stimulated with 10 nmol/l CAE and harvested at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. For the CAE + Ang‑(1‑7) group and CAE + A779 group, the CAE‑induced pancreatic acinar cells were mock pretreated or pretreated with different concentrations of Ang‑(1‑7) or A779 (10‑7, 10‑6 or 10‑5 mol/l) for 30 min. Caspase‑3 is a critical executioner of apoptosis, as it is either partly or completely responsible for the proteolytic cleavage of numerous key proteins including the nuclear enzyme poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase. Activation of caspase‑3 requires proteolytic processing of its inactive zymogen into activated p17 and p12 fragments. Thus, the present study investigated the apoptotic markers, including cleaved caspase‑3, B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2), Bcl‑2‑like protein 4 (Bax) and renin‑angiotensin system (RAS) pathway related proteins (ACE2 and Mas receptor). The results demonstrated that the cleaved caspase‑3 levels were increased in the CAE group (P<0.05), peaking at 24 h, and declined when incubated with Ang‑(1‑7). Following treatment with Ang‑(1‑7), levels of the anti‑apoptotic protein Bcl‑2 rose dramatically in a dose‑dependent manner. The ratio of the pro‑apoptotic protein Bax to the anti‑apoptotic protein Bcl‑2 dropped notably, which demonstrated a tendency towards curbing apoptosis. In addition, the cleaved caspase‑3 levels, and the ratio of Bax to Bcl‑2 in the CAE + A779 group presented a significant rise compared with the CAE group. It was concluded that Ang‑(1‑7) may possess an inhibitory effect on CAE‑induced pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis and that appropriate interventions in RAS may attenuate pancreatic injury during AP.

Essential Role of Lyn in Fibrosis

Fibrotic disorders involve replacement of normal parenchyma with myofibroblasts, which deposit connective tissue, leading to obliteration of the function of the underlying organ. The treatment options are inadequate and reflect the fact that signaling targets in myofibroblasts are unknown. Here we identify the hyperactive Lyn signaling in myofibroblasts of patients with chronic pancreatitis-induced fibrosis. Lyn activation coexpress with markers of activated myofibroblasts, and is increased ~11-fold in chronic pancreatitis compared to normal tissue. Inhibition of Lyn with siRNA or INNO-406 leads to the substantial decrease of migration and proliferation of human chronic pancreatitis myofibroblasts in vitro, while leaving migration and proliferation of normal myofibroblasts only slightly affected. Furthermore, inhibition of Lyn prevents synthesis of procollagen and collagen in myofibroblasts in a mouse model of chronic pancreatitis-induced fibrosis. We conclude that Lyn, as a positive regulator of myofibroblast migration, proliferation, and collagen production, is a key target for preventing fibrosis.