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Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences :... Jul 2023Pancreatic cancer is typically detected at an advanced stage, and is refractory to most forms of treatment, contributing to poor survival outcomes. The incidence of... (Review)
Review
Pancreatic cancer is typically detected at an advanced stage, and is refractory to most forms of treatment, contributing to poor survival outcomes. The incidence of pancreatic cancer is gradually increasing, linked to an aging population and increasing rates of obesity and pancreatitis, which are risk factors for this cancer. Sources of risk include adipokine signaling from fat cells throughout the body, elevated levels of intrapancreatic intrapancreatic adipocytes (IPAs), inflammatory signals arising from pancreas-infiltrating immune cells and a fibrotic environment induced by recurring cycles of pancreatic obstruction and acinar cell lysis. Once cancers become established, reorganization of pancreatic tissue typically excludes IPAs from the tumor microenvironment, which instead consists of cancer cells embedded in a specialized microenvironment derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). While cancer cell interactions with CAFs and immune cells have been the topic of much investigation, mechanistic studies of the source and function of IPAs in the pre-cancerous niche are much less developed. Intriguingly, an extensive review of studies addressing the accumulation and activity of IPAs in the pancreas reveals that unexpectedly diverse group of factors cause replacement of acinar tissue with IPAs, particularly in the mouse models that are essential tools for research into pancreatic cancer. Genes implicated in regulation of IPA accumulation include KRAS, MYC, TGF-β, periostin, HNF1, and regulators of ductal ciliation and ER stress, among others. These findings emphasize the importance of studying pancreas-damaging factors in the pre-cancerous environment, and have significant implications for the interpretation of data from mouse models for pancreatic cancer.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatitis; Pancreas; Acinar Cells; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37452870
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04855-z -
Gastroenterology May 2024Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by desmoplastic stroma surrounding most tumors. Activated stromal fibroblasts, namely cancer-associated...
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by desmoplastic stroma surrounding most tumors. Activated stromal fibroblasts, namely cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), play a major role in PDAC progression. We analyzed whether CAFs influence acinar cells and impact PDAC initiation, that is, acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM). ADM connection with PDAC pathophysiology is indicated, but not yet established. We hypothesized that CAF secretome might play a significant role in ADM in PDAC initiation.
METHODS
Mouse and human acinar cell organoids, acinar cells cocultured with CAFs and exposed to CAF-conditioned media, acinar cell explants, and CAF cocultures were examined by means of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, RNA sequencing, immunoblotting, and confocal microscopy. Data from liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis of CAF-conditioned medium and RNA sequencing data of acinar cells post-conditioned medium exposure were integrated using bioinformatics tools to identify the molecular mechanism for CAF-induced ADM. Using confocal microscopy, immunoblotting, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, we validated the depletion of a key signaling axis in the cell line, acinar explant coculture, and mouse cancer-associated fibroblasts (mCAFs).
RESULTS
A close association of acino-ductal markers (Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1, amylase, cytokeratin-19) and mCAFs (α-smooth muscle actin) in LSL-Kras; LSL-Trp53; Pdx1 (KPC) and LSL-Kras; Pdx1 (KC) autochthonous progression tumor tissue was observed. Caerulein treatment-induced mCAFs increased cytokeratin-19 and decreased amylase in wild-type and KC pancreas. Likewise, acinar-mCAF cocultures revealed the induction of ductal transdifferentiation in cell line, acinar-organoid, and explant coculture formats in WT and KC mice pancreas. Proteomic and transcriptomic data integration revealed a novel laminin α5/integrinα4/stat3 axis responsible for CAF-mediated acinar-to-ductal cell transdifferentiation.
CONCLUSIONS
Results collectively suggest the first evidence for CAF-influenced acino-ductal phenotypic switchover, thus highlighting the tumor microenvironment role in pancreatic carcinogenesis inception.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Acinar Cells; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Transdifferentiation; Coculture Techniques; Culture Media, Conditioned; Laminin; Metaplasia; Organoids; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 38154529
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.12.018 -
Nature Communications Sep 2020Acinar metaplasia is an initial step in a series of events that can lead to pancreatic cancer. Here we perform single-cell RNA-sequencing of mouse pancreas during the...
Acinar metaplasia is an initial step in a series of events that can lead to pancreatic cancer. Here we perform single-cell RNA-sequencing of mouse pancreas during the progression from preinvasive stages to tumor formation. Using a reporter gene, we identify metaplastic cells that originated from acinar cells and express two transcription factors, Onecut2 and Foxq1. Further analyses of metaplastic acinar cell heterogeneity define six acinar metaplastic cell types and states, including stomach-specific cell types. Localization of metaplastic cell types and mixture of different metaplastic cell types in the same pre-malignant lesion is shown. Finally, single-cell transcriptome analyses of tumor-associated stromal, immune, endothelial and fibroblast cells identify signals that may support tumor development, as well as the recruitment and education of immune cells. Our findings are consistent with the early, premalignant formation of an immunosuppressive environment mediated by interactions between acinar metaplastic cells and other cells in the microenvironment.
Topics: Acinar Cells; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Biopsy; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Cell Differentiation; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genetic Heterogeneity; Homeodomain Proteins; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Metaplasia; Mice; Mutation; Pancreas; Pancreatectomy; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Precancerous Conditions; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); RNA-Seq; Single-Cell Analysis; Transcription Factors; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 32908137
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18207-z -
Cell Stem Cell Jun 2021The exocrine pancreas, consisting of ducts and acini, is the site of origin of pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Our understanding of the genesis...
The exocrine pancreas, consisting of ducts and acini, is the site of origin of pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Our understanding of the genesis and progression of human pancreatic diseases, including PDAC, is limited because of challenges in maintaining human acinar and ductal cells in culture. Here we report induction of human pluripotent stem cells toward pancreatic ductal and acinar organoids that recapitulate properties of the neonatal exocrine pancreas. Expression of the PDAC-associated oncogene GNAS induces cystic growth more effectively in ductal than acinar organoids, whereas KRAS is more effective in modeling cancer in vivo when expressed in acinar compared with ductal organoids. KRAS, but not GNAS, induces acinar-to-ductal metaplasia-like changes in culture and in vivo. We develop a renewable source of ductal and acinar organoids for modeling exocrine development and diseases and demonstrate lineage tropism and plasticity for oncogene action in the human pancreas.
Topics: Acinar Cells; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Oncogenes; Organoids; Pancreas; Pancreas, Exocrine; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Stem Cells
PubMed: 33915081
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.03.022 -
JCI Insight Nov 2022Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a local and/or systemic inflammatory disease that starts with acinar cell injury and necrosis; it has no effective medical treatment and thus...
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a local and/or systemic inflammatory disease that starts with acinar cell injury and necrosis; it has no effective medical treatment and thus remains a life-threatening condition. Interleukin-37 (IL-37), a natural immunomodulator, has demonstrated an antiinflammatory effect; however, the role of IL-37 in AP remains unknown. The serum IL-37 levels of 39 healthy controls and 94 patients with AP were measured. Cholecystokinin was applied to induce pancreatic acinar cell injury in vitro. Classical experimental AP models, such as caerulein, l-arginine, and taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate disodium salt, were included in the in vivo study. A transgenic mouse model with the IL-37 gene and administration of recombinant IL-37 were used to further investigate the function of IL-37 in AP. Pancreas-specific gasdermin D-knockout (GSDMD-knockout) mice were used to explore the protective mechanism of IL-37. Our results showed that serum IL-37 levels in humans were negatively correlated with the severity of AP. Furthermore, IL-37-transgenic mice and supplementation with recombinant IL-37 could both protect against AP. Mechanistically, IL-37 was able to suppress pyroptosis of injured acinar cells, and specific depletion of GSDMD in the pancreas counteracted the protective effect of IL-37. Our study demonstrates that IL-37 protects against acinar cell pyroptosis in AP.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Acinar Cells; Acute Disease; Interleukins; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Transgenic; Pancreatitis; Pyroptosis
PubMed: 36166295
DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.161244 -
Theranostics 2020There is no curative therapy for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) due to poor understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
There is no curative therapy for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) due to poor understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in SAP and increased expression of ATF6 has been detected in SAP patients. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of ATF6 in a preclinical SAP mouse model and characterize its regulatory mechanism. Pancreatic tissues of healthy and SAP patients were collected during surgery. Humanized PRSS1 transgenic mice were treated with caerulein to mimic the SAP development, which was crossed to an ATF6 knockout mouse line, and pancreatic tissues from the resulting pups were screened by proteomics. Adenovirus-mediated delivery to the pancreas of SAP mice was used for shRNA-based knockdown or overexpression. The potential functions and mechanisms of ATF6 were clarified by immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, Western blotting, qRT-PCR, ChIP-qPCR and luciferase reporter assay. Increased expression of ATF6 was associated with elevated apoptosis, ER and mitochondrial disorder in pancreatic tissues from SAP patients and PRSS1 mice. Knockout of ATF6 in SAP mice attenuated acinar injury, apoptosis and ER disorder. AIFM2, known as a p53 target gene, was identified as a downstream regulatory partner of ATF6, whose expression was increased in SAP. Functionally, AIFM2 could reestablish the pathological disorder in SAP tissues in the absence of ATF6. p53 expression was also increased in SAP mice, which was downregulated by ATF6 knockout. p53 knockout significantly suppressed acinar apoptosis and injury in SAP model. Mechanistically, ATF6 promoted AIFM2 transcription by binding to p53 and AIFM2 promoters. These results reveal that ATF6/p53/AIFM2 pathway plays a critical role in acinar apoptosis during SAP progression, highlighting novel therapeutic target molecules for SAP.
Topics: Acinar Cells; Activating Transcription Factor 6; Adult; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Case-Control Studies; Ceruletide; Disease Models, Animal; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Female; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Humans; Male; Mice, Knockout; Middle Aged; Mitochondrial Proteins; Pancreas; Pancreatitis; Transcriptional Activation; Trypsin; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
PubMed: 32724472
DOI: 10.7150/thno.46934 -
Gastroenterology Jul 2022Mitochondrial dysfunction disrupts the synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes in pancreatic acinar cells and plays a primary role in the etiology of exocrine...
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Mitochondrial dysfunction disrupts the synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes in pancreatic acinar cells and plays a primary role in the etiology of exocrine pancreas disorders. However, the transcriptional mechanisms that regulate mitochondrial function to support acinar cell physiology are poorly understood. Here, we aim to elucidate the function of estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) in pancreatic acinar cell mitochondrial homeostasis and energy production.
METHODS
Two models of ERRγ inhibition, GSK5182-treated wild-type mice and ERRγ conditional knock-out (cKO) mice, were established to investigate ERRγ function in the exocrine pancreas. To identify the functional role of ERRγ in pancreatic acinar cells, we performed histologic and transcriptome analysis with the pancreas isolated from ERRγ cKO mice. To determine the relevance of these findings for human disease, we analyzed transcriptome data from multiple independent human cohorts and conducted genetic association studies for ESRRG variants in 2 distinct human pancreatitis cohorts.
RESULTS
Blocking ERRγ function in mice by genetic deletion or inverse agonist treatment results in striking pancreatitis-like phenotypes accompanied by inflammation, fibrosis, and cell death. Mechanistically, loss of ERRγ in primary acini abrogates messenger RNA expression and protein levels of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex genes, resulting in defective acinar cell energetics. Mitochondrial dysfunction due to ERRγ deletion further triggers autophagy dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and production of reactive oxygen species, ultimately leading to cell death. Interestingly, ERRγ-deficient acinar cells that escape cell death acquire ductal cell characteristics, indicating a role for ERRγ in acinar-to-ductal metaplasia. Consistent with our findings in ERRγ cKO mice, ERRγ expression was significantly reduced in patients with chronic pancreatitis compared with normal subjects. Furthermore, candidate locus region genetic association studies revealed multiple single nucleotide variants for ERRγ that are associated with chronic pancreatitis.
CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, our findings highlight an essential role for ERRγ in maintaining the transcriptional program that supports acinar cell mitochondrial function and organellar homeostasis and provide a novel molecular link between ERRγ and exocrine pancreas disorders.
Topics: Acinar Cells; Animals; Estrogens; Humans; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Pancreas; Pancreas, Exocrine; Pancreatitis, Chronic
PubMed: 35461826
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.04.013 -
Gastroenterology Jan 2022Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive tumor that is almost uniformly lethal in humans. Activating mutations of KRAS are found in >90% of human...
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive tumor that is almost uniformly lethal in humans. Activating mutations of KRAS are found in >90% of human PDACs and are sufficient to promote acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) during tumor initiation. The roles of miRNAs in oncogenic Kras-induced ADM are incompletely understood.
METHODS
The Ptf1aLSL-Kras and Ptf1aLSL-KrasLSL-p53R172H/ and caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis mice models were used. mir-802 was conditionally ablated in acinar cells to study the function of miR-802 in ADM.
RESULTS
We show that miR-802 is a highly abundant and acinar-enriched pancreatic miRNA that is silenced during early stages of injury or oncogenic Kras-induced transformation. Genetic ablation of mir-802 cooperates with Kras by promoting ADM formation. miR-802 deficiency results in de-repression of the miR-802 targets Arhgef12, RhoA, and Sdc4, activation of RhoA, and induction of the downstream RhoA effectors ROCK1, LIMK1, COFILIN1, and EZRIN, thereby increasing F-actin rearrangement. mir-802 ablation also activates SOX9, resulting in augmented levels of ductal and attenuated expression of acinar identity genes. Consistently with these findings, we show that this miR-802-RhoA-F-actin network is activated in biopsies of pancreatic cancer patients and correlates with poor survival.
CONCLUSIONS
We show miR-802 suppresses pancreatic cancer initiation by repressing oncogenic Kras-induced ADM. The role of miR-802 in ADM fills the gap in our understanding of oncogenic Kras-induced F-actin reorganization, acinar reprogramming, and PDAC initiation. Modulation of the miR-802-RhoA-F-actin network may be a new strategy to interfere with pancreatic carcinogenesis.
Topics: Acinar Cells; Animals; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cellular Reprogramming; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Male; Mice, Transgenic; MicroRNAs; Mutation; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatitis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); SOX9 Transcription Factor; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 34547282
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.09.029 -
Cell Metabolism Jul 2023Type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) are caused by a deficit of functional insulin-producing β cells. Thus, the identification of β cell trophic agents could allow...
Type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) are caused by a deficit of functional insulin-producing β cells. Thus, the identification of β cell trophic agents could allow the development of therapeutic strategies to counteract diabetes. The discovery of SerpinB1, an elastase inhibitor that promotes human β cell growth, prompted us to hypothesize that pancreatic elastase (PE) regulates β cell viability. Here, we report that PE is up-regulated in acinar cells and in islets from T2D patients, and negatively impacts β cell viability. Using high-throughput screening assays, we identified telaprevir as a potent PE inhibitor that can increase human and rodent β cell viability in vitro and in vivo and improve glucose tolerance in insulin-resistant mice. Phospho-antibody microarrays and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis identified PAR2 and mechano-signaling pathways as potential mediators of PE. Taken together, our work highlights PE as a potential regulator of acinar-β cell crosstalk that acts to limit β cell viability, leading to T2D.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Acinar Cells; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Pancreatic Elastase; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Insulin; Cell Communication
PubMed: 37339634
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.05.007 -
Theranostics 2021Recent studies have proven that the overall pathophysiology of pancreatitis involves not only the pancreatic acinar cells but also duct cells, however, pancreatic duct...
Recent studies have proven that the overall pathophysiology of pancreatitis involves not only the pancreatic acinar cells but also duct cells, however, pancreatic duct contribution in acinar cells homeostasis is poorly known and the molecular mechanisms leading to acinar insult and acute pancreatitis (AP) are unclear. Our previous work also showed that S100A9 protein level was notably increased in AP rat pancreas through iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis. Therefore, we investigated the actions of injured duct cells on acinar cells and the S100A9-related effects and mechanisms underlying AP pathology in the present paper. In this study, we constructed S100A9 knockout (s100a9) mice and an coculture system for pancreatic duct cells and acinar cells. Moreover, a variety of small molecular inhibitors of S100A9 were screened from ChemDiv through molecular docking and virtual screening methods. We found that the upregulation of S100A9 induces cell injury and inflammatory response via NLRP3 activation by targeting VNN1-mediated ROS release; and loss of S100A9 decreases AP injury and . Moreover, molecular docking and mutant plasmid experiments proved that S100A9 has a direct interaction with VNN1 through the salt bridges formation of Lys57 and Glu92 residues in S100A9 protein. We further found that compounds CHNO and CHFNOS can significantly improve AP injury and through inhibiting S100A9-VNN1 interaction. Our study showed the important regulatory effect of S100A9 on pancreatic duct injury during AP and revealed that inhibition of the S100A9-VNN1 interaction may be a key therapeutic target for this disease.
Topics: Acinar Cells; Amidohydrolases; Animals; Calgranulin B; Cell Line; GPI-Linked Proteins; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Molecular Docking Simulation; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Pancreatic Ducts; Pancreatitis; Reactive Oxygen Species; Small Molecule Libraries
PubMed: 33754072
DOI: 10.7150/thno.54245