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Archivum Immunologiae Et Therapiae... Apr 2020Interactions between the immune system and the pancreas are pivotal in understanding how and why β cells' damage causes problems with pancreas functioning. Pancreatic... (Review)
Review
Crosstalk Between Immunity System Cells and Pancreas. Transformation of Stem Cells Used in the 3D Bioprinting Process as a Personalized Treatment Method for Type 1 Diabetes.
Interactions between the immune system and the pancreas are pivotal in understanding how and why β cells' damage causes problems with pancreas functioning. Pancreatic islets are crucial in maintaining glucose homeostasis in organs, tissue and cells. Autoimmune aggression towards pancreatic islets, mainly β cells, leads to type 1 diabetes-one of the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the world, being a worldwide risk to health of many people. In this review, we highlight the role of immune cells and its influence in the development of autoimmunity in Langerhans islets. Moreover, we discuss the impact of the immunological factors on future understanding possible recurrence of autoimmunity on 3D-bioprinted bionic pancreas.
Topics: Autoimmunity; Bioprinting; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Humans; Immune System; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Islets of Langerhans; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; Pancreas; Stem Cells
PubMed: 32297019
DOI: 10.1007/s00005-020-00578-2 -
Folia Morphologica 2019Pancreatic duct and parenchyma has different benchmarks in nomenclature. The author discusses the proposition to unify the description system of procedures and surgeries...
Pancreatic duct and parenchyma has different benchmarks in nomenclature. The author discusses the proposition to unify the description system of procedures and surgeries within pancreas according to the direction of pancreatic juice natural flow.
Topics: Humans; Models, Biological; Pancreas; Terminology as Topic
PubMed: 30211434
DOI: 10.5603/FM.a2018.0086 -
Annales D'endocrinologie Apr 2019In the modern world, type-2 diabetes mellitus has become a leading public healthcare problem, due to major risks of morbidity and mortality. Prevalence has increased... (Review)
Review
In the modern world, type-2 diabetes mellitus has become a leading public healthcare problem, due to major risks of morbidity and mortality. Prevalence has increased significantly in recent decades. Treatment involves oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin replacement therapy. Development is ongoing for cell-based diabetes therapies using stem cells with the potential to differentiate into insulin-producing cells (IPCs): embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and stem cells from adult pancreas, liver, central nervous system, bone marrow and adipose tissue. Successful induction of iPSCs, however, depends on the quantity and quality of available stem cells and the development of adapted protocols determining the environment of extrinsic factors and involvement of small molecules. Validating such new cell therapies must be founded on this experimental rationale.
Topics: Animals; Biological Factors; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Differentiation; Cellular Reprogramming; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Secretion; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Pancreas; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Small Molecule Libraries
PubMed: 30833018
DOI: 10.1016/j.ando.2018.11.002 -
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta Jun 2016In a recent study we explored Group-1-p21-activated kinases (GP.1-PAKs) in rat pancreatic acini. Only PAK2 was present; it was activated by...
In a recent study we explored Group-1-p21-activated kinases (GP.1-PAKs) in rat pancreatic acini. Only PAK2 was present; it was activated by gastrointestinal-hormones/neurotransmitters and growth factors in a PKC-, Src- and small-GTPase-mediated manner. PAK2 was required for enzyme-secretion and ERK/1-2-activation. In the present study we examined PAK2's role in CCK and TPA-activation of important distal signaling cascades mediating their physiological/pathophysiological effects and analyzed its role in pathophysiological processes important in early pancreatitis. In rat pancreatic acini, PAK2-inhibition by the specific, GP.1.PAK-inhibitor, IPA-3-suppressed cholecystokinin (CCK)/TPA-stimulated activation of focal-adhesion kinases and mitogen-activated protein-kinases. PAK2-inhibition reversed the dual stimulatory/inhibitory effect of CCK/TPA on the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway. However, its inhibition did not affect PKC activation. PAK2-inhibition protected acini from CCK-induced ROS-generation; caspase/trypsin-activation, important in early pancreatitis; as well as from cell-necrosis. Furthermore, PAK2-inhibition reduced proteolytic-activation of PAK-2p34, which is involved in programmed-cell-death. To ensure that the study did not only rely in the specificity of IPA-3 as a PAK inhibitor, we used two other approaches for PAK inhibition, FRAX597 a ATP-competitive-GP.1-PAKs-inhibitor and infection with a PAK2-dominant negative(DN)-Advirus. Those two approaches confirmed the results obtained with IPA-3. This study demonstrates that PAK2 is important in mediating CCK's effect on the activation of signaling-pathways known to mediate its physiological/pathophysiological responses including several cellular processes linked to the onset of pancreatitis. Our results suggest that PAK2 could be a new, important therapeutic target to consider for the treatment of diseases involving deregulation of pancreatic acinar cells.
Topics: Acinar Cells; Animals; Cell Death; Enzyme Activation; Male; Pancreas; Pancreatitis; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; p21-Activated Kinases
PubMed: 26912410
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2016.02.008 -
Clinical and Experimental Immunology Jan 2016Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common and severe chronic diseases affecting both children and adults. The aetiology of the disease remains unknown, and thus... (Review)
Review
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common and severe chronic diseases affecting both children and adults. The aetiology of the disease remains unknown, and thus far no 'true' cure for those affected is available. Indeed, exogenous insulin replacement therapy to manage glucose metabolism to the best degree possible remains the current standard of care. However, despite a recent array of truly impressive improvements designed to enhance disease management (e.g. insulin analogues, continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps), it is still difficult for the vast majority of patients to reach recommended target HbA1C levels (< 7.0%). As a result of suboptimal disease management, far too many patients with T1D have an increased risk for disease-associated complications such as nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy, as well as hypoglycaemia. New treatment modalities are therefore needed urgently to bring a 'true' cure (disease prevention/disease reversal) to patients with T1D. Here we consider issues that collectively pose a major stumbling block in T1D research with respect to identifying a means to prevent and/or cure the disease. We begin this Perspective by discussing new insights emanating from studies of the pancreas in human T1D; findings which may, at least in part, explain why previous interventions seeking disease prevention/reversal have yielded insufficient benefit. We then turn to suggestions that could optimise the outcome of future clinical trials. Finally, we direct attention to recommendations for the global T1D research community; messages we deem to have the potential to improve our chances of finding the elusive T1D 'cure'.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Blood Glucose; Child; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Pancreas; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 25989477
DOI: 10.1111/cei.12656 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Apr 2024: The pancreas, ensconced within the abdominal cavity, requires a plethora of sophisticated imaging modalities for its comprehensive evaluation, with ultrasonography... (Review)
Review
: The pancreas, ensconced within the abdominal cavity, requires a plethora of sophisticated imaging modalities for its comprehensive evaluation, with ultrasonography serving as a primary investigative technique. A myriad of pancreatic pathologies, encompassing pancreatic neoplasia and a spectrum of inflammatory diseases, are detectable through these imaging strategies. Nevertheless, the intricate anatomical confluence and the pancreas's deep-seated topography render the visualization and accurate diagnosis of its pathologies a formidable endeavor. The objective of our paper is to review the best diagnostic imagistic tools for the pancreas. : we have gathered several articles using Prisma guidelines to determine the best imagistic methods. The imperative of pancreatic scanning transcends its diagnostic utility, proving to be a pivotal element in a multitude of clinical specialties, notably surgical oncology. Within this domain, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) of the pancreas holds the distinction of being the paramount imaging modality, endorsed for its unrivaled capacity to delineate the staging and progression of pancreatic carcinoma. In synergy with MDCT, there has been a notable advent of avant-garde imaging techniques in recent years. These advanced methodologies, including ultrasonography, endoscopic ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conjoined with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), have broadened the horizon of tumor characterization, offering unparalleled depth and precision in oncological assessment. Other emerging diagnostic techniques, such as elastography, also hold a lot of potential and promise for the future of pancreatic imaging. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a quick, minimally invasive procedure to evaluate lumps using a thin needle to extract tissue for analysis. It is less invasive than surgical biopsies and usually performed as an outpatient with quick recovery. Its accuracy depends on sample quality, and the risks include minimal bleeding or discomfort. Results, guiding further treatment, are typically available within a week. Elastography is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that maps the elastic properties and stiffness of soft tissue. This method, often used in conjunction with ultrasound or MRI, helps differentiate between hard and soft areas in tissue, providing valuable diagnostic information. It is particularly useful for assessing liver fibrosis, thyroid nodules, breast lumps, and musculoskeletal conditions. The technique is painless and involves applying gentle pressure to the area being examined. The resulting images show tissue stiffness, indicating potential abnormalities. Elastography is advantageous for its ability to detect diseases in early stages and monitor treatment effectiveness. The procedure is quick, safe, and requires no special preparation, with results typically available immediately. : The assembled and gathered data shows the efficacy of various techniques in discerning the nature and extent of neoplastic lesions within the pancreas. : The most common imaging modalities currently used in diagnosing pancreatic neoplasms are multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), alongside new technologies, such as elastography.
Topics: Humans; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Ultrasonography; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multidetector Computed Tomography; Pancreas
PubMed: 38792878
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60050695 -
Cell Metabolism Nov 2021Finding endogenous, renewable sources for insulin-producing beta cells in the adult pancreas is one of the holy grails of stem cell research and regenerative medicine....
Finding endogenous, renewable sources for insulin-producing beta cells in the adult pancreas is one of the holy grails of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Through lineage tracing and scRNA-seq approaches, Gribben et al. (2021) have recently reported that Ngn3-expressing ductal cells could serve as progenitors for new beta cells in the adult pancreas.
Topics: Insulin-Secreting Cells; Pancreas
PubMed: 34731654
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.10.007 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Although type 1 diabetes (T1D) is primarily a disease of the pancreatic beta-cells, understanding of the disease-associated alterations in the whole pancreas could be...
Although type 1 diabetes (T1D) is primarily a disease of the pancreatic beta-cells, understanding of the disease-associated alterations in the whole pancreas could be important for the improved treatment or the prevention of the disease. We have characterized the whole-pancreas gene expression of patients with recently diagnosed T1D from the Diabetes Virus Detection (DiViD) study and non-diabetic controls. Furthermore, another parallel dataset of the whole pancreas and an additional dataset from the laser-captured pancreatic islets of the DiViD patients and non-diabetic organ donors were analyzed together with the original dataset to confirm the results and to get further insights into the potential disease-associated differences between the exocrine and the endocrine pancreas. First, higher expression of the core acinar cell genes, encoding for digestive enzymes, was detected in the whole pancreas of the DiViD patients when compared to non-diabetic controls. Second, In the pancreatic islets, upregulation of immune and inflammation related genes was observed in the DiViD patients when compared to non-diabetic controls, in line with earlier publications, while an opposite trend was observed for several immune and inflammation related genes at the whole pancreas tissue level. Third, strong downregulation of the regenerating gene family () genes, linked to pancreatic islet growth and regeneration, was observed in the exocrine acinar cell dominated whole-pancreas data of the DiViD patients when compared with the non-diabetic controls. Fourth, analysis of unique features in the transcriptomes of each DiViD patient compared with the other DiViD patients, revealed elevated expression of central antiviral immune response genes in the whole-pancreas samples, but not in the pancreatic islets, of one DiViD patient. This difference in the extent of antiviral gene expression suggests different statuses of infection in the pancreas at the time of sampling between the DiViD patients, who were all enterovirus + in the islets by immunohistochemistry based on earlier studies. The observed features, indicating differences in the function, status and interplay between the exocrine and the endocrine pancreas of recent onset T1D patients, highlight the importance of studying both compartments for better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of T1D.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Humans; Inflammation; Pancreas; Pancreas, Exocrine; Transcriptome
PubMed: 35498413
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.861985 -
BMJ Case Reports Aug 2014We present the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man presenting with polyarthritis, weight loss and multiple tender cutaneous nodules. Abnormal liver function tests...
We present the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man presenting with polyarthritis, weight loss and multiple tender cutaneous nodules. Abnormal liver function tests prompted imaging of the liver which demonstrated liver metastases. Biopsy of the liver lesions confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.
Topics: Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreas; Pancreatic Diseases; Panniculitis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 25150233
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2014-204290 -
Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome Nov 2023The global burden of cardiovascular diseases continues to rise, and it is increasingly acknowledged that guidelines based on traditional risk factors fail to identify a...
BACKGROUND
The global burden of cardiovascular diseases continues to rise, and it is increasingly acknowledged that guidelines based on traditional risk factors fail to identify a substantial fraction of people who develop cardiovascular diseases. Fat in the pancreas could be one of the unappreciated risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the associations of dyslipidemia states with fat in the pancreas.
METHODS
All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging on the same 3.0 T scanner for quantification of fat in the pancreas, analyzed as both binary (i.e., fatty change of the pancreas) and continuous (i.e., intra-pancreatic fat deposition) variables. Statistical analyses were adjusted for body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, ethnicity, age, and sex.
RESULTS
There were 346 participants studied. On most adjusted analyses, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol dyslipidemia was significantly associated with both fatty change of the pancreas (p = 0.010) and intra-pancreatic fat deposition (p = 0.008). Neither low-density lipoprotein cholesterol dyslipidemia nor triglyceride dyslipidemia were significantly associated with fatty change of the pancreas and intra-pancreatic fat deposition. The absence of any dyslipidemia was inversely associated with both fatty change of the pancreas (p = 0.016) and intra-pancreatic fat deposition (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Dyslipidemias are uncoupled when it comes to the relationship with fat in the pancreas, with only high-density lipoprotein cholesterol dyslipidemia having a consistent and strong link with it. The residual cardiovascular diseases risk may be attributed to fatty change of the pancreas.
Topics: Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pancreas; Risk Factors; Cholesterol, HDL; Dyslipidemias
PubMed: 37862954
DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2023.102881