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Ando R, Shiraki Y, Miyai Y, Shimizu H, Furuhashi K, Minatoguchi S, Kato K, Kato A, Iida T, Mizutani Y, Ito K, Asai N, Mii S, Esaki N, Takahashi M, Enomoto A. Meflin is a marker of pancreatic stellate cells involved in fibrosis and epithelial regeneration in the pancreas. J Pathol 2024; 262:61-75. [PMID: 37796386 DOI: 10.1002/path.6211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are stromal cells in the pancreas that play an important role in pancreatic pathology. In chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), PSCs are known to get activated to form myofibroblasts or cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that promote stromal fibroinflammatory reactions. However, previous studies on PSCs were mainly based on the findings obtained using ex vivo expanded PSCs, with few studies that addressed the significance of in situ tissue-resident PSCs using animal models. Their contributions to fibrotic reactions in CP and PDAC are also lesser-known. These limitations in our understanding of PSC biology have been attributed to the lack of specific molecular markers of PSCs. Herein, we established Meflin (Islr), a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein, as a PSC-specific marker in both mouse and human by using human pancreatic tissue samples and Meflin reporter mice. Meflin-positive (Meflin+ ) cells contain lipid droplets and express the conventional PSC marker Desmin in normal mouse pancreas, with some cells also positive for Gli1, the marker of pancreatic tissue-resident fibroblasts. Three-dimensional analysis of the cleared pancreas of Meflin reporter mice showed that Meflin+ PSCs have long and thin cytoplasmic protrusions, and are localised on the abluminal side of vessels in the normal pancreas. Lineage tracing experiments revealed that Meflin+ PSCs constitute one of the origins of fibroblasts and CAFs in CP and PDAC, respectively. In these diseases, Meflin+ PSC-derived fibroblasts showed a distinctive morphology and distribution from Meflin+ PSCs in the normal pancreas. Furthermore, we showed that the genetic depletion of Meflin+ PSCs accelerated fibrosis and attenuated epithelial regeneration and stromal R-spondin 3 expression, thereby implying that Meflin+ PSCs and their lineage cells may support tissue recovery and Wnt/R-spondin signalling after pancreatic injury and PDAC development. Together, these data indicate that Meflin may be a marker specific to tissue-resident PSCs and useful for studying their biology in both health and disease. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Ando
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Shiraki
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuki Miyai
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroki Shimizu
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Furuhashi
- Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shun Minatoguchi
- Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Kato
- Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akira Kato
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tadashi Iida
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Mizutani
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kisuke Ito
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Naoya Asai
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Shinji Mii
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Nobutoshi Esaki
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahide Takahashi
- Division of International Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Atsushi Enomoto
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Center for One Medicine Innovative Translational Research, Gifu University Institute for Advanced Study, Gifu, Japan
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Sakata N, Yoshimatsu G, Kawakami R, Aoyagi C, Kodama S. Optimal temperature for the long-term culture of adult porcine islets for xenotransplantation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1280668. [PMID: 37901206 PMCID: PMC10611499 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1280668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Porcine islet xenotransplantation represents a promising therapy for severe diabetes mellitus. Long-term culture of porcine islets is a crucial challenge to permit the on-demand provision of islets. We aimed to identify the optimal temperature for the long-term culture of adult porcine islets for xenotransplantation. We evaluated the factors potentially influencing successful 28-day culture of islets at 24°C and 37°C, and found that culture at 37°C contributed to the stability of the morphology of the islets, the proliferation of islet cells, and the recovery of endocrine function, indicated by the expression of genes involved in pancreatic development, hormone production, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. These advantages may be provided by islet-derived CD146-positive stellate cells. The efficacy of xenotransplantation using islets cultured for a long time at 37°C was similar to that of overnight-cultured islets. In conclusion, 37°C might be a suitable temperature for the long-term culture of porcine islets, but further modifications will be required for successful xenotransplantation in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoaki Sakata
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Gumpei Yoshimatsu
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ryo Kawakami
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Chikao Aoyagi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shohta Kodama
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
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Kang MK, Jiang F, Kim YJ, Ryu K, Masamune A, Hamada S, Park YY, Koh SS. CTHRC1 Induces Pancreatic Stellate Cells (PSCs) into Myofibroblast-like Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (myCAFs). Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3370. [PMID: 37444482 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
[BACKGROUND] Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1) is a secreted protein that contributes to the progression of various cancers, including pancreatic cancer. The higher expression of CTHRC1 in tumor tissues is associated with poorer survival outcomes. However, its specific roles in tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling remain unclear. Our study aims to investigate the influences of CTHRC1 on pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), a main source of ECM production in pancreatic cancer. [METHODS AND RESULTS] The analyses of the publicly available pancreatic cancer patient data revealed that CTHRC1 is mainly expressed in cancer stroma and highly correlated with ECM-related genes. An in vitro study showed that more than 40% of these genes can be upregulated by CTHRC1. CTHRC1 specifically activated PSC into myofibroblast-like cancer-associated fibroblasts (myCAFs), which are characterized by a significantly upregulated POSTN gene expression. Periostin (coded by the POSTN gene) has a central role in the CTHRC1-PSCs-cancer metastasis axis. Furthermore, CTHRC1 promoted pancreatic cancer cell proliferation through PSC activation to a greater extent than via direct stimulation. Proof-of-concept experiments showed that the long-term (4-week) inhibition of CTHRC1 led to significant tumor suppression and ECM reduction, and also resulted in an unexpected shift in the CAF subtype from myCAFs to inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs). [CONCLUSION] PSC activation was demonstrated to be the key molecular mechanism responsible for the tumor-promoting effects of CTHRC1, and CTHRC1 has a critical role in CAF subtype differentiation and tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling. The inhibition of CTHRC1 as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyung Kang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
- Prestige BioPharma IDC Co., Ltd., Busan 46726, Republic of Korea
| | - Fen Jiang
- Prestige BioPharma IDC Co., Ltd., Busan 46726, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Ji Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungjin Ryu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
- Prestige BioPharma IDC Co., Ltd., Busan 46726, Republic of Korea
| | - Atsushi Masamune
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Shin Hamada
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Yun-Yong Park
- Prestige BioPharma IDC Co., Ltd., Busan 46726, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Seok Koh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
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Wu D, Chen W, Yang Y, Qin Y, Zu G, Zhang Y, An Y, Sun D, Xu X, Chen X. PITX2 in pancreatic stellate cells promotes EMT in pancreatic cancer cells via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1393-1403. [PMID: 37337632 PMCID: PMC10520469 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer is very poor and there is a lack of treatment methods, this study is performed to investigate the function of PITX2 in pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) in the progression of pancreatic cancer. Scientific hypotheses are proposed according to bioinformatics analysis and tissue microarray analysis. Stable knockdown of PITX2 in PSCs is achieved through lentiviral infection. The relative expressions of PITX2, α-SMA, vimentin, CTNNB1, AXIN1 and LEF1 are measured in wild-type PSCs and PITX2-knockdown PSCs. Proliferative capacity is measured by EdU assay. After coculture with PSCs, the proliferation, invasion and migration capacity of pancreatic cancer cells are tested. EMT and Wnt/β-catenin downstream genes of pancreatic cancer cells are investigated to reveal the potential mechanism. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that the PITX2 gene is highly expressed in stromal cells in pancreatic cancer and is correlated with squamous-type PDAC. Analysis of PDAC tissue microarray further demonstrates that high PITX2 level in stromal cells is correlated with poor prognosis in PDAC. After stable knockdown of PITX2 in PSCs, the relative protein levels of α-SMA, vimentin, CTNNB1, AXIN1 and LEF1 are decreased, and the proliferative capacity of PSCs is also decreased. After coculture with PSCs, in which PITX2 expression is downregulated, the proliferation, invasion and migration capacities of pancreatic cancer cells are inhibited. Thus, our results show that PITX2-silenced PSCs inhibit the growth, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells via reduced EMT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Department of HepatopancreatobiliaryThird Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhou213001China
| | - Weibo Chen
- Department of HepatopancreatobiliaryThird Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhou213001China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of HepatopancreatobiliaryThird Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhou213001China
| | - Yi Qin
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
| | - Guangchen Zu
- Department of HepatopancreatobiliaryThird Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhou213001China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of HepatopancreatobiliaryThird Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhou213001China
| | - Yong An
- Department of HepatopancreatobiliaryThird Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhou213001China
| | - Donglin Sun
- Department of HepatopancreatobiliaryThird Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhou213001China
| | - Xiaowu Xu
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
| | - Xuemin Chen
- Department of HepatopancreatobiliaryThird Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhou213001China
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Jang SD, Song J, Kim HA, Im CN, Khawar IA, Park JK, Kuh HJ. Anti-Cancer Activity Profiling of Chemotherapeutic Agents in 3D Co-Cultures of Pancreatic Tumor Spheroids with Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Macrophages. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5955. [PMID: 34885065 PMCID: PMC8656537 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Activated pancreatic stellate cells (aPSCs) and M2 macrophages modulate tumor progression and therapeutic efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, our aim was to analyze the anti-invasion effects of anti-cancer agents where EMT-inducing cancer-stroma interaction occurs under three-dimensional (3D) culture conditions. We used microfluidic channel chips to co-culture pancreatic tumor spheroids (TSs) with aPSCs and THP-1-derived M2 macrophages (M2 THP-1 cells) embedded in type I collagen. Under stromal cell co-culture conditions, PANC-1 TSs displayed elevated expression of EMT-related proteins and increased invasion and migration. When PANC-1 TSs were exposed to gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, or paclitaxel, 30-50% cells were found unaffected, with no significant changes in the dose-response profiles under stromal cell co-culture conditions. This indicated intrinsic resistance to these drugs and no further induction of drug resistance by stromal cells. Paclitaxel had a significant anti-invasion effect; in contrast, oxaliplatin did not show such effect despite its specific cytotoxicity in M2 THP-1 cells. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the TS-stroma co-culture model of PDAC is useful for activity profiling of anti-cancer agents against cancer and stromal cells, and analyzing the relationship between anti-stromal activity and anti-invasion effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Dam Jang
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Jeeyeun Song
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Hyun-Ah Kim
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Chang-Nim Im
- Graduate Program for Future Medical Research Leaders, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Iftikhar Ali Khawar
- Graduate Program for Future Medical Research Leaders, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Jong Kook Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
| | - Hyo-Jeong Kuh
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
- Cancer Evolution Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
- Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
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Tanaka Y, Hamada S, Matsumoto R, Taguchi K, Yamamoto M, Masamune A. Nrf2 expression in pancreatic stellate cells promotes progression of cancer. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2021; 321:G378-G388. [PMID: 34405729 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00120.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
It was previously identified that systemic Nrf2 deletion attenuates pancreatic cancer progression in a mutant K-ras/p53-expressing mouse model (KPC mouse). In this study, the type of cell that is responsible for the retarded cancer progression was elucidated. Human pancreatic cancers were first examined, and elevated expression of NRF2-target gene products in α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells was found, suggesting that pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are involved in this process. Closer examination of primary cultured PSCs from Nrf2-deleted mice revealed that the cells were less proliferative and retained a lower migration capacity. The conditioned medium of Nrf2-deleted PSCs exhibited reduced growth-stimulating effects in pancreatic cancer cells. KPC mouse-derived pancreatic cancer cells coinjected with wild-type PSCs developed significantly larger subcutaneous tumors in immunodeficient mice than those coinjected with Nrf2-deleted PSCs. These results demonstrate that Nrf2 actively contributes to the function of PSCs to sustain KPC cancer progression, thus, suggesting that Nrf2 inhibition in PSCs may be therapeutically important in pancreatic cancer.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study identified that Nrf2 contributes to PSC activation. Nrf2 deletion in PSCs resulted in attenuation of cancer-promoting role. Nrf2 in PSCs could be an attractive therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tanaka
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shin Hamada
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Matsumoto
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Keiko Taguchi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Masamune
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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Ren Y, Cui Q, Zhang J, Liu W, Xu M, Lv Y, Wu Z, Zhang Y, Wu R. Milk Fat Globule-EGF Factor 8 Alleviates Pancreatic Fibrosis by Inhibiting ER Stress-Induced Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy in Mice. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:707259. [PMID: 34421598 PMCID: PMC8375434 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.707259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic fibrosis is an important pathophysiological feature of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Our recent study has shown that milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8) is beneficial in acute pancreatitis. However, its role in CP remained unknown. To study this, CP was induced in male adult Mfge8-knockout (Mfge8-KO) mice and wild type (WT) mice by six intraperitoneal injections of cerulein (50 μg/kg/body weight) twice a week for 10 weeks. The results showed that knockout of mfge8 gene aggravated pancreatic fibrosis after repeated cerulein injection. In WT mice, pancreatic levels of MFG-E8 were reduced after induction of CP and administration of recombinant MFG-E8 alleviated cerulein-induced pancreatic fibrosis. The protective effect of MFG-E8 in CP was associated with reduced autophagy and oxidative stress. In human pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), MFG-E8 inhibited TGF-β1-induced ER stress and autophagy. MFG-E8 downregulated the expression of lysosomal associated membrane protein 2A (LAMP2A), a key factor in ER stress-induced chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). QX77, an activator of CMA, eliminated the effects of MFG-E8 on TGF-β1-induced PSC activation. In conclusion, MFG-E8 appears to mitigate pancreatic fibrosis via inhibiting ER stress-induced chaperone-mediated autophagy. Recombinant MFG-E8 may be developed as a novel treatment for pancreatic fibrosis in CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Ren
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qing Cui
- Department of Cardiology, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wuming Liu
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yi Lv
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zheng Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Department of Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rongqian Wu
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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Song HY, Zhou ZX, Zhang YX. [Effects of Notch3 on gene expression and signal pathway of pancreatic stellate cell activation]. Zhongguo Ying Yong Sheng Li Xue Za Zhi 2021; 37:349-53. [PMID: 34374252 DOI: 10.12047/j.cjap.6084.2021.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The pancreatic stellate cells( PSCs) of mice were isolated and cultured and the effects of Notch3 siRNA on PSCs gene expression were detected. Methods: were PSCs of mice were isolated and cultured. The expressions of α-SMA, fibonectin and collagen I in activated PSCs were detected by immunofluorescence. The PSCs were divided into four groups, blank control group (MOCK group), negative siRNA control group (NC group) , Notch3 siRNA group (N3 siRNA group) and Notch3 siRNA-1 group (N3 siRNA-1 group). Cell treatment: the same transfection method was applied to transfect PSCs for 48h. Then total RNA was extracted from each group, and the concentration and purity of RNA was measured. The transcriptome sequencing and analysis were performed by ANOROAD Gene technology (Beijing) co., LTD. Results: The immunofluorescence results showed that α-SMA, fibonectin and collagen I were significantly expressed in activated PSCs. The analysis of the sequencing results showed that the gene expressions of α-SMA, collagen I, fibronectin, CTGF and PCNA of PSCs were down-regulated in N3 siRNA group and N3 siRNA-1 group comparing with NC group. The genes involved in collagen metabolism were up-regulated, the gene expression of positive regulation of collagen biosynthesis was down-regulated, while that of negative regulation of collagen biosynthesis was up-regulated in N3 siRNA group and N3 siRNA-1 group comparing with NC group. The genes that regulated cell aggregation were down-regulated, and the genes that regulated extracellular matrix were down regulated in N3 siRNA group and N3 siRNA-1 group comparing with NC group. Inhibition of Notch3 expression in PSCs could affect the gene expressions of cell adhesion molecule signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and TGF-β signaling pathway. Conclusion: Inhibition of Notch3 expression can inhibit activation of PSCs , and reduce the ability of proliferation, migration and aggregation and ECM synthesis of PSCs. Inhibition of Notch3 expression may affect other signal pathways such as cell adhesion molecule signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and TGF-β signaling pathway, but its effects need further validation.
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Abstract
Vitamin D is a potent steroid hormone that induces widespread changes in gene expression and controls key biological pathways. Here we review pathophysiology of vitamin D with particular reference to COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer. Utility as a therapeutic agent is limited by hypercalcemic effects and attempts to circumvent this problem have used vitamin D superagonists, with increased efficacy and reduced calcemic effect. A further caveat is that vitamin D mediates multiple diverse effects. Some of these (anti-fibrosis) are likely beneficial in patients with COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer, whereas others (reduced immunity), may be beneficial through attenuation of the cytokine storm in patients with advanced COVID-19, but detrimental in pancreatic cancer. Vitamin D superagonists represent an untapped resource for development of effective therapeutic agents. However, to be successful this approach will require agonists with high cell-tissue specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Easty
- Department of Medical Oncology, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Ireland
| | - Christine J. Farr
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Bryan T. Hennessy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Oncology, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Ireland
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Amrutkar M, Gladhaug IP. Stellate Cells Aid Growth-Permissive Metabolic Reprogramming and Promote Gemcitabine Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:601. [PMID: 33546284 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The great majority, more than 90%, of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) die within less than five years after detection of the disease, despite recent treatment advances. The poor prognosis is related to late diagnosis, aggressive disease progression, and tumor resistance to conventional chemotherapy. PDAC tumor tissue is characterized by dense fibrosis and poor nutrient availability. A large portion of the tumor is made up of stromal fibroblasts, the pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which are known to contribute to tumor progression in several ways. PSCs have been shown to act as an alternate energy source, induce drug resistance, and inhibit drug availability in tumor cells, however, the underlying exact molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this literature review, we discuss recent available knowledge about the contributions of PSCs to the overall progression of PDAC via changes in tumor metabolism and how this is linked to therapy resistance. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), also known as pancreatic cancer (PC), is characterized by an overall poor prognosis and a five-year survival that is less than 10%. Characteristic features of the tumor are the presence of a prominent desmoplastic stromal response, an altered metabolism, and profound resistance to cancer drugs including gemcitabine, the backbone of PDAC chemotherapy. The pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) constitute the major cellular component of PDAC stroma. PSCs are essential for extracellular matrix assembly and form a supportive niche for tumor growth. Various cytokines and growth factors induce activation of PSCs through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, which in turn promote overall tumor growth and metastasis and induce chemoresistance. To maintain growth and survival in the nutrient-poor, hypoxic environment of PDAC, tumor cells fulfill their high energy demands via several unconventional ways, a process generally referred to as metabolic reprogramming. Accumulating evidence indicates that activated PSCs not only contribute to the therapy-resistant phenotype of PDAC but also act as a nutrient supplier for the tumor cells. However, the precise molecular links between metabolic reprogramming and an acquired therapy resistance in PDAC remain elusive. This review highlights recent findings indicating the importance of PSCs in aiding growth-permissive metabolic reprogramming and gemcitabine chemoresistance in PDAC.
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11
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Abstract
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a pancreatic disease with poor prognosis characterized clinically by abdominal pain, morphologically by pancreatic stones/calcification, duct dilatation and atrophy, and functionally by pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. CP is also known as a risk factor for the development of pancreatic cancer. CP has long been understood based on a fixed disease concept deduced from the clinical and morphological features of the end-stage disease. However, identification of causal genes for hereditary pancreatitis and success in the isolation and culture of pancreatic stellate cells have advanced the understanding of the underlying pathological mechanisms, the early-stage pathophysiology, and the mechanisms behind pancreatic fibrosis. These advances have led to moves aimed at improving patient prognosis through prevention of disease progression by early diagnosis and early therapeutic intervention. The strategy for preventing disease progression has included a proposal for diagnostic criteria for early CP and introduction of a new definition of CP in consideration of the pathological mechanisms. Our group has been committed deeply to these studies and has provided a large amount of information to the world.
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12
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Zhou Y, Sun B, Li W, Zhou J, Gao F, Wang X, Cai M, Sun Z. Pancreatic Stellate Cells: A Rising Translational Physiology Star as a Potential Stem Cell Type for Beta Cell Neogenesis. Front Physiol 2019; 10:218. [PMID: 30930789 PMCID: PMC6424017 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The progressive decline and eventual loss of islet β-cell function underlies the pathophysiological mechanism of the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The recovery of functional β-cells is an important strategy for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Based on similarities in developmental biology and anatomy, in vivo induction of differentiation of other types of pancreatic cells into β-cells is a promising avenue for future diabetes treatment. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which have attracted intense research interest due to their effects on tissue fibrosis over the last decade, express multiple stem cell markers and can differentiate into various cell types. In particular, PSCs can successfully differentiate into insulin- secreting cells in vitro and can contribute to tissue regeneration. In this article, we will brings together the main concepts of the translational physiology potential of PSCs that have emerged from work in the field and discuss possible ways to develop the future renewable source for clinical treatment of pancreatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunting Zhou
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Diabetes, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Diabetes, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junming Zhou
- Department of Outpatient, Army Engineering University, Jingling Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Graduate Innovation Platform of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaohang Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Diabetes, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Cai
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Diabetes, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zilin Sun
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Diabetes, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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13
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Neuzillet C, Tijeras-Raballand A, Ragulan C, Cros J, Patil Y, Martinet M, Erkan M, Kleeff J, Wilson J, Apte M, Tosolini M, Wilson AS, Delvecchio FR, Bousquet C, Paradis V, Hammel P, Sadanandam A, Kocher HM. Inter- and intra-tumoural heterogeneity in cancer-associated fibroblasts of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Pathol 2019; 248:51-65. [PMID: 30575030 PMCID: PMC6492001 DOI: 10.1002/path.5224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAF) are orchestrators of the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) microenvironment. Stromal heterogeneity may explain differential pathophysiological roles of the stroma (pro‐ versus anti‐tumoural) in PDAC. We hypothesised that multiple CAF functional subtypes exist in PDAC, that contribute to stromal heterogeneity through interactions with cancer cells. Using molecular and functional analysis of patient‐derived CAF primary cultures, we demonstrated that human PDAC‐derived CAFs display a high level of inter‐ and intra‐tumour heterogeneity. We identified at least four subtypes of CAFs based on transcriptomic analysis, and propose a classification for human PDAC‐derived CAFs (pCAFassigner). Multiple CAF subtypes co‐existed in individual patient samples. The presence of these CAF subtypes in bulk tumours was confirmed using publicly available gene expression profiles, and immunostainings of CAF subtype markers. Each subtype displayed specific phenotypic features (matrix‐ and immune‐related signatures, vimentin and α‐smooth muscle actin expression, proliferation rate), and was associated with an assessable prognostic impact. A prolonged exposure of non‐tumoural pancreatic stellate cells to conditioned media from cancer cell lines (cancer education experiment) induced a CAF‐like phenotype, including loss of capacity to revert to quiescence and an increase in the expression of genes related to CAF subtypes B and C. This classification demonstrates molecular and functional inter‐ and intra‐tumoural heterogeneity of CAFs in human PDAC. Our subtypes overlap with those identified from single‐cell analyses in other cancers, and pave the way for the development of therapies targeting specific CAF subpopulations in PDAC. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Neuzillet
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CRUK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Barts and The London HPB Centre, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.,INSERM UMR1149, Beaujon University Hospital, Paris 7 Diderot University, Paris, France.,Department of Medical Oncology, Curie Institute, Versailles Saint-Quentin University, Paris, France
| | | | - Chanthirika Ragulan
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.,Centre for Molecular Pathology, The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Jérôme Cros
- INSERM UMR1149, Beaujon University Hospital, Paris 7 Diderot University, Paris, France.,Department of Pathology, Beaujon University Hospital, Paris 7 Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Yatish Patil
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.,Centre for Molecular Pathology, The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Mert Erkan
- Department of Surgery, Koc University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jörg Kleeff
- Department of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine Surgery, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jeremy Wilson
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales and Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Minoti Apte
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales and Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Marie Tosolini
- INSERM UMR 1037, Technological Pole and Bioinformatic Platform, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Abigail S Wilson
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CRUK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Francesca R Delvecchio
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CRUK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Corinne Bousquet
- INSERM UMR 1037, Team 6 Protein Synthesis and Secretion in Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Valérie Paradis
- INSERM UMR1149, Beaujon University Hospital, Paris 7 Diderot University, Paris, France.,Department of Pathology, Beaujon University Hospital, Paris 7 Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Pascal Hammel
- INSERM UMR1149, Beaujon University Hospital, Paris 7 Diderot University, Paris, France.,Digestive Oncology Unit, Beaujon University Hospital, Paris 7 Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Anguraj Sadanandam
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.,Centre for Molecular Pathology, The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Hemant M Kocher
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CRUK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Barts and The London HPB Centre, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
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14
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Xue R, Jia K, Wang J, Yang L, Wang Y, Gao L, Hao J. A Rising Star in Pancreatic Diseases: Pancreatic Stellate Cells. Front Physiol 2018; 9:754. [PMID: 29967585 PMCID: PMC6015921 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic stellate cell (PSC) is a type of pluripotent cell located between pancreatic lobules and the surrounding area of acinars. When activated, PSC can be transformed into myofibroblast-like cell. A number of evidences suggest that activated PSC is the main source of the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein under the pathological conditions, which lead to pancreatic fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Recent studies have found that PSC also plays an important role in the endocrine cell function, islet fibrosis and diabetes. In order to provide new strategies for the treatment of pancreatic diseases, this paper systematically summarizes the recent researches about the biological behaviors of PSC, including its stem/progenitor cell characteristics, secreted exosomes, cellular senescence, epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT), energy metabolism and direct mechanical reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Jia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxin Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lixin Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanbin Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lingyun Gao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyu Hao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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15
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Sun L, Xiu M, Wang S, Brigstock DR, Li H, Qu L, Gao R. Lipopolysaccharide enhances TGF-β1 signalling pathway and rat pancreatic fibrosis. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:2346-2356. [PMID: 29424488 PMCID: PMC5867168 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a critical role in fibrogenesis during alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP). Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) is a key regulator of extracellular matrix production and PSC activation. Endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been recognized as a trigger factor in the pathogenesis of ACP. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which LPS modulates TGF-β1 signalling and pancreatic fibrosis. Sprague-Dawley rats fed with a Lieber-DeCarli alcohol (ALC) liquid diet for 10 weeks with or without LPS challenge during the last 3 weeks. In vitro studies were performed using rat macrophages (Mφs) and PSCs (RP-2 cell line). The results showed that repeated LPS challenge resulted in significantly more collagen production and PSC activation compared to rats fed with ALC alone. LPS administration caused overexpression of pancreatic TLR4 or TGF-β1 which was paralleled by an increased number of TLR4-positive or TGF-β1-positive Mφs or PSCs in ALC-fed rats. In vitro, TLR4 or TGF-β1 production in Mφs or RP-2 cells was up-regulated by LPS. LPS alone or in combination with TGF-β1 significantly increased type I collagen and α-SMA production and Smad2 and 3 phosphorylation in serum-starved RP-2 cells. TGF-β pseudoreceptor BAMBI production was repressed by LPS, which was antagonized by Si-TLR4 RNA or by inhibitors of MyD88/NF-kB. Additionally, knockdown of Bambi with Si-Bambi RNA significantly increased TGF-β1 signalling in RP-2 cells. These findings indicate that LPS increases TGF-β1 production through paracrine and autocrine mechanisms and that LPS enhances TGF-β1 signalling in PSCs by repressing BAMBI via TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Sun
- Department of Hepatic Biliary Pancreatic MedicineFirst Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Ming Xiu
- Department of Hepatic Biliary Pancreatic MedicineFirst Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Shuhua Wang
- Department of Surgical GastroenterologyFirst Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | | | - Hongyan Li
- Department of Hepatic Biliary Pancreatic MedicineFirst Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Limei Qu
- Department of Hepatic Biliary Pancreatic MedicineFirst Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Runping Gao
- Department of Hepatic Biliary Pancreatic MedicineFirst Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
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16
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Pan MR, Hsu MC, Luo CW, Chen LT, Shan YS, Hung WC. The histone methyltransferase G9a as a therapeutic target to override gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 7:61136-61151. [PMID: 27531902 PMCID: PMC5308641 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Gemcitabine (GEM) resistance is a critical issue for pancreatic cancer treatment. The involvement of epigenetic modification in GEM resistance is still unclear. We established a GEM-resistant subline PANC-1-R from the parental PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and found the elevation of various chromatin-modifying enzymes including G9a in GEM-resistant cells. Ectopic expression of G9a in PANC-1 cells increased GEM resistance while inactivation of G9a in PANC-1-R cells reduced it. Challenge of PANC-1 cells with GEM increased the expression of stemness markers including CD133, nestin and Lgr5 and promoted sphere forming activity suggesting chemotherapy enriched cancer cells with stem-like properties. Inhibition of G9a in PANC-1-R cells reduced stemness and invasiveness and sensitized the cells to GEM. We revealed interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a downstream effector of G9a to increase GEM resistance. G9a-overexpressing PANC-1-R cells exhibited autocrine IL-8/CXCR1/2 stimulation to increase GEM resistance which could be decreased by anti-IL-8 antibody and G9a inhibitor. IL-8 released by cancer cells also activated pancreatic stellate cell (PSC) to increase GEM resistance. In orthotopic animal model, GEM could not suppress tumor growth of PANC-1-R cells and eventually promoted tumor metastasis. Combination with G9a inhibitor and GEM reduced tumor growth, metastasis, IL-8 expression and PSC activation in animals. Finally, we showed that overexpression of G9a correlated with poor survival and early recurrence in pancreatic cancer patients. Collectively, our results suggest G9a is a therapeutic target to override GEM resistance in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Ren Pan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.,Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chuan Hsu
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Wen Luo
- Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Li-Tzong Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Shen Shan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.,Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chun Hung
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan
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17
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Xue R, Yang J, Wu J, Meng Q, Hao J. Coenzyme Q10 inhibits the activation of pancreatic stellate cells through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Oncotarget 2017; 8:92300-92311. [PMID: 29190916 PMCID: PMC5696182 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) have a vital role in pancreatic fibrosis accompanied by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Any agents which can affect the activation of PSCs could become potential candidates for treatment strategies in PDAC and CP. Our aim was to explore the effect of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the process of PSCs activation. Methods Isolated PSCs from C57BL/6 mice were treated with various dosages of CoQ10 (1, 10, and 100μM) and different time (24h, 48h, and 72 h). Effect of CoQ10 on autophagy, apoptosis, senescence and oxidative stress, as well as the activation of PSCs were analyzed by immunocytofluorescent staining, quantitative real time RT-PCR, western blotting, SA-β-galactosidase staining, malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay. Results Expression of α-smooth muscle actin, LC3II, Beclin1, Cleaved caspases-3 and Bax levels were significantly reduced in CoQ10 treatment groups. Meanwhile, compared with the control group, significant differences for the expression of desmin, P62, Bcl-2, p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR levels in CoQ10 treatment groups were found. Moreover, CoQ10 affected the secretion of extracellular matrix components for PSCs. Few SA-β-gal positive cells were found in CoQ10 treated groups. A significant decrease in ROS positive cells and malondialdehyde levels were observed after 72 h exposure to CoQ10. Conclusions Our finding suggests that CoQ10 inhibits the activation of PSCs by suppressing autophagy through activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. CoQ10 may act as a therapeutic agent in PSC-relating pathologies and/or anti-fibrotic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine of Liver Disease, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine of Liver Disease, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Qinghua Meng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine of Liver Disease, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jianyu Hao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
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18
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Storck H, Hild B, Schimmelpfennig S, Sargin S, Nielsen N, Zaccagnino A, Budde T, Novak I, Kalthoff H, Schwab A. Ion channels in control of pancreatic stellate cell migration. Oncotarget 2017; 8:769-784. [PMID: 27903970 PMCID: PMC5352195 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a critical role in the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Once activated, PSCs support proliferation and metastasis of carcinoma cells. PSCs even co-metastasise with carcinoma cells. This requires the ability of PSCs to migrate. In recent years, it has been established that almost all "hallmarks of cancer" such as proliferation or migration/invasion also rely on the expression and function of ion channels. So far, there is only very limited information about the function of ion channels in PSCs. Yet, there is growing evidence that ion channels in stromal cells also contribute to tumor progression. Here we investigated the function of KCa3.1 channels in PSCs. KCa3.1 channels are also found in many tumor cells of different origin. We revealed the functional expression of KCa3.1 channels by means of Western blot, immunofluorescence and patch clamp analysis. The impact of KCa3.1 channel activity on PSC function was determined with live-cell imaging and by measuring the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). KCa3.1 channel blockade or knockout prevents the stimulation of PSC migration and chemotaxis by reducing the [Ca2+]i and calpain activity. KCa3.1 channels functionally cooperate with TRPC3 channels that are upregulated in PDAC stroma. Knockdown of TRPC3 channels largely abolishes the impact of KCa3.1 channels on PSC migration. In summary, our results clearly show that ion channels are crucial players in PSC physiology and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah Sargin
- Institut für Physiologie II, 48149 Münster, Gemany
| | | | - Angela Zaccagnino
- UKSH, Campus Kiel, Institut für Experimentelle Tumorforschung (IET), Sektion Molekulare Onkologie, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Thomas Budde
- Institut für Physiologie I, 48149 Münster, Gemany
| | - Ivana Novak
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Holger Kalthoff
- UKSH, Campus Kiel, Institut für Experimentelle Tumorforschung (IET), Sektion Molekulare Onkologie, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
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19
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Abstract
The central role of PSCs in pancreatic fibrogenesis is well established. However, the mechanism responsible for the islet fibrosis presenting in the late stage of T2DM has not been fully elucidated. This study was designed to determine whether the endocrine pancreatic islets contain cells resembling PSCs. PSCs were isolated from pancreas using standard explants techniques. A similar method was used to acquire ISCs. Adherent ISCs with a stellate, angular morphology migrated from the edge of cultured islets within 48 h of primary culture. ISCs contained fewer lipid droplets than equivalent PSCs, and their rapid disappearance accompanied by the increased expression of α-SMA suggested that ISCs were more rapidly activated than PSCs in vitro. They expressed α-SMA, vimentin, GFAP and were positive for ECM components col-I, col-III and FN, all of which are characteristics of classical PSCs. However, ISCs differed from PSCs by having reduced rates of proliferation and migration in vitro. Our in vitro study shows that isolated islets contain a population of stellate cells which are phenotypically similar but not identical to PSCs. In view of the established role of PSCs in pancreatic fibrosis, we suggest that these may contribute to islet fibrosis in T2DM.
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20
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Philip B, Roland CL, Daniluk J, Liu Y, Chatterjee D, Gomez SB, Ji B, Huang H, Wang H, Fleming JB, Logsdon CD, Cruz-Monserrate Z. A high-fat diet activates oncogenic Kras and COX2 to induce development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in mice. Gastroenterology 2013; 145:1449-58. [PMID: 23958541 PMCID: PMC3873752 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Obesity is a risk factor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but it is not clear how obesity contributes to pancreatic carcinogenesis. The oncogenic form of KRAS is expressed during early stages of PDAC development and is detected in almost all of these tumors. However, there is evidence that mutant KRAS requires an additional stimulus to activate its full oncogenic activity and that this stimulus involves the inflammatory response. We investigated whether the inflammation induced by a high-fat diet, and the accompanying up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), increases Kras activity during pancreatic carcinogenesis in mice. METHODS We studied mice with acinar cell-specific expression of KrasG12D (LSL-Kras/Ela-CreERT mice) alone or crossed with COX2 conditional knockout mice (COXKO/LSL-Kras/Ela-CreERT). We also studied LSL-Kras/PDX1-Cre mice. All mice were fed isocaloric diets with different amounts of fat, and a COX2 inhibitor was administered to some LSL-Kras/Ela-CreERT mice. Pancreata were collected from mice and analyzed for Kras activity, levels of phosphorylated extracellular-regulated kinase, inflammation, fibrosis, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), and PDACs. RESULTS Pancreatic tissues from LSL-Kras/Ela-CreERT mice fed high-fat diets (HFDs) had increased Kras activity, fibrotic stroma, and numbers of PanINs and PDACs than LSL-Kras/Ela-CreERT mice fed control diets; the mice fed the HFDs also had shorter survival times than mice fed control diets. Administration of a COX2 inhibitor to LSL-Kras/Ela-CreERT mice prevented these effects of HFDs. We also observed a significant reduction in survival times of mice fed HFDs. COXKO/LSL-Kras/Ela-CreERT mice fed HFDs had no evidence for increased numbers of PanIN lesions, inflammation, or fibrosis, as opposed to the increases observed in LSL-Kras/Ela-CreERT mice fed HFDs. CONCLUSIONS In mice, an HFD can activate oncogenic Kras via COX2, leading to pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis and development of PanINs and PDAC. This mechanism might be involved in the association between risk for PDAC and HFDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bincy Philip
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christina L. Roland
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jaroslaw Daniluk
- Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deyali Chatterjee
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sobeyda B. Gomez
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Baoan Ji
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Haojie Huang
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Huamin Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jason B. Fleming
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Craig D. Logsdon
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA,Department of GI Medical Oncology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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21
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Ene-Obong A, Clear AJ, Watt J, Wang J, Fatah R, Riches JC, Marshall JF, Chin-Aleong J, Chelala C, Gribben JG, Ramsay AG, Kocher HM. Activated pancreatic stellate cells sequester CD8+ T cells to reduce their infiltration of the juxtatumoral compartment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 2013; 145:1121-32. [PMID: 23891972 PMCID: PMC3896919 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 384] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a prominent desmoplastic microenvironment that contains many different immune cells. Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) contribute to the desmoplasia. We investigated whether distinct stromal compartments are differentially infiltrated by different types of immune cells. METHODS We used tissue microarray analysis to compare immune cell infiltration of different pancreaticobiliary diseased tissues (PDAC, ampullary carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, mucinous cystic neoplasm, chronic inflammation, and chronic pancreatitis) and juxtatumoral stromal (<100 μm from tumor) and panstromal compartments. We investigated the association between immune infiltrate and patient survival times. We also analyzed T-cell migration and tumor infiltration in LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) mice and the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on these processes. RESULTS Juxtatumoral compartments in PDAC samples from 2 independent groups of patients contained increased numbers of myeloperoxidase(+) and CD68(+) cells compared with panstromal compartments. However, juxtatumoral compartments of PDACs contained fewer CD8(+), FoxP3(+), CD56(+), or CD20(+) cells than panstromal compartments, a distinction absent in ampullary carcinomas and cholangiocarcinomas. Patients with PDACs that had high densities of CD8(+) T cells in the juxtatumoral compartment had longer survival times than patients with lower densities. In KPC mice, administration of ATRA, which renders PSCs quiescent, increased numbers of CD8(+) T cells in juxtatumoral compartments. We found that activated PSCs express cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules that regulate T-cell migration. In vitro migration assays showed that CD8(+) T cells, from patients with PDAC, had increased chemotaxis toward activated PSCs, which secrete CXCL12, compared with quiescent PSCs or tumor cells. These effects could be reversed by knockdown of CXCL12 or treatment of PSCs with ATRA. CONCLUSIONS Based on studies of human PDAC samples and KPC mice, activated PSCs appear to reduce migration of CD8(+) T cells to juxtatumoral stromal compartments, preventing their access to cancer cells. Deregulated signaling by activated PSCs could prevent an effective antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abasi Ene-Obong
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Andrew J. Clear
- Centre for Hemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jennifer Watt
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
,Department of Surgery, Barts and the London HPB Centre, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, E1 1BB, UK.
| | - Jun Wang
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Rewas Fatah
- Centre for Hemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - John C. Riches
- Centre for Hemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - John F. Marshall
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Joanne Chin-Aleong
- Department of Pathology, Barts and the London HPB Centre, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, E1 1BB, UK.
| | - Claude Chelala
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - John G. Gribben
- Centre for Hemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Alan G. Ramsay
- Centre for Hemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Hemant M. Kocher
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
,Department of Surgery, Barts and the London HPB Centre, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, E1 1BB, UK.
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Ohnishi N, Miyata T, Ohnishi H, Yasuda H, Tamada K, Ueda N, Mashima H, Sugano K. Activin A is an autocrine activator of rat pancreatic stellate cells: potential therapeutic role of follistatin for pancreatic fibrosis. Gut 2003; 52:1487-93. [PMID: 12970143 PMCID: PMC1773818 DOI: 10.1136/gut.52.10.1487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The present study was conducted to examine the effect of activin A on activation of rat pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). METHODS PSCs were prepared from rat pancreas using collagenase digestion and centrifugation with Nycodenz gradient. Activation of PSCs was examined by determining smooth muscle actin expression with western blotting. The presence of activin A receptors in PSCs was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. Expression of activin A and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. Activin A and TGF-beta peptide concentrations were examined with ELISA. Existence of activin A peptide in PSCs was investigated by immunocytochemistry. Collagen secretion was determined by Sirius red dye binding. RESULTS Activin A receptors I and IIa were present in PSCs. PSCs expressed activin A mRNA and secreted activin A. Activin A enhanced PSC activation and collagen secretion in a dose dependent manner. TGF-beta and activin A increased each other's secretion and mRNA expression of PSCs. Follistatin decreased TGF-beta mRNA expression and TGF-beta secretion of PSCs, and inhibited both PSC activation and collagen secretion. CONCLUSION Activin A is an autocrine activator of PSCs. Follistatin can inhibit PSC activation and collagen secretion by blocking autocrined activin A and decreasing TGF-beta expression and secretion of PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ohnishi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
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