Title:Activated Pancreatic Stellate Cells Promote Acinar Duct Metaplasia by
Disrupting Mitochondrial Respiration and Releasing Reactive Oxygen
Species
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
Author(s): Hong Xiang, Fangyue Guo, Qi Zhou, Xufeng Tao*Deshi Dong*
Affiliation:
- School of Chemical
Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, First Affiliated
Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China
Keywords:
Pancreatic stellate cells, acinar-to-duct metaplasia, mitochondrial respiration, reactive oxygen species, S100A9, ROS, CP.
Abstract:
Background: Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) is a long-term risk factor for pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and both diseases share a common etiology. The activation of
Pancreatic stellate cells (PaSCs) caused by inflammation of the chronic pancreas plays a pivotal
role in the pathology of pancreatic fibrosis and the malignant phenotype of PDAC. However, the
central role of activated PaSCs in Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia (ADM) remains unknown.
Objective: In the present study, we investigated the link between pancreatic fibrosis and ADM
and the possible underlying mechanism.
Methods: A caerulein-treated mouse CP model was established, and Masson trichrome histochemical
stain and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) were used to observe stromal fibrosis
and cell ultrastructure, respectively. The expression of amylase and cytokeratin 19
(CK19), mitochondria respiration, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected in vitro in
the co-culture model of primary pancreatic acinar cells and PaSCs.
Results: The activation of PaSCs and pancreatic fibrosis were accompanied by ADM in pancreatic
parenchyma in caerulein-treated mice, which was verified by the co-cultivation experiment
in vitro. Furthermore, we showed that activated PaSCs promote ADM by disrupting mitochondrial
respiration and releasing ROS. The expression of inflammation-and ADM-related genes,
including S100A8, S100A9, and CK19, was observed to be up-regulated in pancreatic acinar
cells in the presence of activated PaSCs. The expression of S100A9 and CK19 proteins was also
up-regulated in acinar cells co-cultured with activated PaSCs.
Conclusion: The manipulation of mitochondrial respiration and ROS release is a promising preventive
and/or therapeutic strategy for PDAC, and S100A9 is expected to be a therapeutic target
to block the ADM process induced by the activation of PaSCs.