trypsinogen and Fibrosis

The understanding of pathogenesis of acute and chronic pancreatitis has benefited from the progress made in genetic investigations. The discoveries of the gain of function mutations of cationic trypsinogen gene (PRSS1) and the loss of function mutations of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (SPINK 1) or other potential defects in genes that regulate pancreatic secretory function or modulate inflammatory response to pancreatic injury has changed our current concepts on the pathogenesis of pancreatitis. Genetic factors play an important role in the susceptibility to pancreatic injury, severity and evolution of inflammatory process, leading in some cases to chronic inflammation and/or fibrosis. Acute pancreatitis is viewed as an event and chronic pancreatitis as a process, sequentially linked, reflecting a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.

Topics: Carrier Proteins; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; DNA Mutational Analysis; Fibrosis; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic Testing; Humans; Inflammation; Pancreas; Pancreatitis; Trypsin; Trypsin Inhibitor, Kazal Pancreatic; Trypsinogen

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Alcohol Drinking; Chronic Disease; Diabetes Mellitus; Fibrosis; Gallstones; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Hyperlipidemias; Malabsorption Syndromes; Mutation; Pancreas; Pancreatitis; Risk Factors; Smoking; Trypsin; Trypsinogen

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a complex inflammatory disorder of the pancreas affecting acinar cells, duct cells, islet cells and inflammatory cells including fibrosis-producing stellate cells. Serum trypsinogen is a biomarkers of acinar cell function.. To define the degree of correlation between low trypsinogen levels as a marker of acinar cell function and variable features of CP.. Serum samples from previously ascertained and well phenotyped case and control subjects from the North American Pancreatitis Study II (NAPS2) were used to measure serum trypsinogen levels in a commercial laboratory. Control samples were used to define normal ranges and compared with levels in CP patients with defined features.. A final cohort of 279 CP patients and 262 controls from the NAPS2 studies were evaluated. In controls trypsinogen had a mean of 34.96 ng/ml and SD = 11.99. Cut-off values for low trypsinogen ranged from <20 to 10 ng/ml and very low trypsinogen at <10 ng/ml. Compared to controls, CP was associated with very low trypsinogen levels (p < 0.0001). Within CP, very low trypsinogen levels correlated with parenchymal loss (pancreatic surgery [p < 0.05]; atrophy with calcifications, [p < 0.001]), EPI (p < 0.01, trend p < 0.001) and diabetes (trend p < 0.01) but not CT-based criteria for fibrosis (pancreatic duct dilation, irregularity, strictures).. Very low serum trypsinogen levels correlate with measures of acinar cell loss including surgical resection, atrophic-calcific CP, diabetes and functional symptoms EPI but not duct morphology criteria. Serum trypsinogen levels correlate with decreased acinar cell function and therefore have biomarker utility clinical management.

Topics: Acinar Cells; Adult; Aged; Atrophy; Biomarkers; Calcinosis; Cohort Studies; Diabetes Complications; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency; Female; Fibrosis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreas; Pancreatic Ducts; Pancreatitis, Chronic; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trypsinogen

A frequently used experimental model of chronic pancreatitis (CP) recapitulating human disease is repeated injection of cerulein into mice. C57BL/6 is the most commonly used inbred mouse strain for biomedical research, but widespread demand has led to generation of several substrains with subtly different phenotypes. In this study, two common substrains, C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NHsd, exhibited different degrees of CP, with C57BL/6J being more susceptible to repetitive cerulein-induced CP as assessed by pancreatic atrophy, pancreatic morphological changes, and fibrosis. We hypothesized that the deficiency of nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) protein in C57BL/6J is responsible for the more severe C57BL/6J phenotype but the parameters of CP in NNT-expressing transgenic mice generated on a C57BL6/J background do not differ with those of wild-type C57BL/6J. The highly similar genetic backgrounds but different CP phenotypes of these two substrains presents a unique opportunity to discover genes important in pathogenesis of CP. We therefore performed whole mouse genome Affymetrix microarray analysis of pancreatic gene expression of C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NHsd before and after induction of CP. Genes with differentially regulated expression between the two substrains that might be candidates in CP progression included Mmp7, Pcolce2, Itih4, Wdfy1, and Vtn. We also identified several genes associated with development of CP in both substrains, including RIKEN cDNA 1810009J06 gene (trypsinogen 5), Ccl8, and Ccl6.

Topics: Animals; Cell Separation; Ceruletide; Chemokine CCL8; Chemokines, CC; Collagen; Disease Progression; Fibrosis; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Association Studies; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NADP Transhydrogenases; Pancreas; Pancreatic Stellate Cells; Pancreatitis, Chronic; Risk Factors; RNA, Messenger; Trypsinogen

Soft pancreas is considered as a factor for pancreatitis after pancreaticoduodenectomy, which in turn constitutes a high risk for local complications. The aim was to analyze the proportion of different cell types in the cut edge of pancreas (CEP) in relation to postoperative pancreatitis and other complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy.. Data from postoperative follow-up was collected on 40 patients who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy. Positive urine trypsinogen-2, an early detector of pancreatitis, was checked on days 1 to 6 after operation. Drain amylase was measured on postoperative day 3. Anastomotic leakages, delayed gastric emptying, and other complications were registered. The areas of different cell types were calculated from the entire hematoxylin-eosin-stained section of CEP.. High frequency of acinar cells in the CEP significantly increased positive urine trypsinogen-2 days, drain amylase values, and delayed gastric emptying. In a subgroup of patients with more than 40% acini in the CEP, there were significantly more postoperative complications. Increased fibrosis correlated with a small number of positive urine trypsinogen-2 days and postoperative complications.. A large number of acinar cells in the CEP increases, whereas extensive fibrosis in the CEP decreases, the risk for postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy. These results emphasize the importance of acini in the development of postoperative complications.

Topics: Acinar Cells; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amylases; Anastomotic Leak; Biomarkers; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; Fibrosis; Finland; Gastroparesis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreas; Pancreaticoduodenectomy; Pancreatitis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Trypsin; Trypsinogen; Young Adult

Authors report two cases of childhood chronic pancreatitis, causing severe symptoms and common bile duct stenosis with cholestasis. Both patients had to be operated on. Chronic pancreatitis with calcification led to significant common bile duct stenosis in a 13 years old girl. After ERCP a double bypass procedure was performed (Wirsungo-jejunostomy and hepatico-jejunostomy). During 42 months follow-up the patient remained pain- and symptom-free gaining 16 kilograms. In a 9 years old girl severe stenosis of the intrapancreatic common bile duct and a small duct type chronic pancreatitis with extensive fibrosis was found. Treatment was Roux-en-Y hepatico-jejunostomy. Thirty-four months after the operation she is symptom-free with normal enzyme parameters. Authors report results of genetic investigations performed on registered chronic pancreatitis children and their families in Hungary, including the two operated cases. Two of the 5 patients were hereditary type, despite negative family history. Cationic trypsinogen gene R122H (R117H) mutation were detected in both patients. Chronic non-hereditary pancreatitis is a very rare disease in childhood but may cause severe secondary conditions requiring surgery.

Topics: Adolescent; Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures; Child; Cholestasis; Chronic Disease; Common Bile Duct; Constriction, Pathologic; Female; Fibrosis; Humans; Hungary; Male; Mutation; Pancreatitis; Trypsinogen

Summary. The understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis is limited. Several theories (i. e. obstruction hypothesis) were suggested in the past but could not be confirmed by experimental data. As a formal description of the course of the disease, the necrosis-fibrosis concept seems to be very attractive. According to this theory, there is no significant difference in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic pancreatitis. A major step was the identification of mutations of the cationic trypsinogen, the secretory trypsin inhibitor (SPINK 1) and the cystic-fibrosis protein (CFTR) in some patients. Investigation of these mutations may significantly contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis.

Topics: Adult; Chronic Disease; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; Fibrosis; Humans; Mutation; Necrosis; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatitis; Risk Factors; Trypsin Inhibitors; Trypsinogen