title: Pancreatic stellate cells respond to inflammatory cytokines: potential role in chronic pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is now generally accepted that chronic pancreatic injury and fibrosis may result from repeated episodes of acute pancreatic necroinflammation (the necrosis-fibrosis sequence). Recent studies suggest that pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), when activated, may play an important role in the development of pancreatic fibrosis. Factors that may influence PSC activation during pancreatic necroinflammation include cytokines known to be important in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and the interleukins 1, 6, and 10 (IL-1, IL-6, and IL-10).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of these cytokines on PSC activation, as assessed by cell proliferation, alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression, and collagen synthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured rat PSCs were incubated with cytokines for 24 hours. Cell proliferation was assessed by measuring (3)H thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA, alpha-SMA expression by western blotting, and collagen synthesis by incorporation of (14)C proline into collagenase sensitive protein. mRNA levels for procollagen alpha(1)(1) in PSCs were determined by northern and dot blotting methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of alpha-SMA by PSCs was increased on exposure to each of the cytokines used in the study. Stellate cell proliferation was stimulated by TNF-alpha but inhibited by IL-6, while IL-1 and IL-10 had no effect on PSC proliferation. Collagen synthesis by PSCs was stimulated by TNF-alpha and IL-10, inhibited in response to IL-6, and unaltered by IL-1. Changes in collagen protein synthesis in response to TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-6 were not regulated at the mRNA level in the cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has demonstrated that PSCs have the capacity to respond to cytokines known to be upregulated during acute pancreatitis. Persistent activation of PSCs by cytokines during acute pancreatitis may be a factor involved in the progression from acute pancreatitis to chronic pancreatic injury and fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Pancreatic Research Group, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mews
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korsten
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pirola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Apte
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000502:physiology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D007378:Interleukins; D011347:Procollagen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003094:Collagen