Published online Jul 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i28.4511
Revised: January 2, 2006
Accepted: January 14, 2006
Published online: July 28, 2006
AIM: Pancreatic regenerating protein (regI) stimulates pancreatic regeneration after pancreatectomy and is mitogenic to ductal and β-cells. This suggests that regIand its receptor may play a role in recovery after pancreatic injury. We hypothesized that regIand its receptor are induced in acute pancreatitis.
METHODS: Acute pancreatitis was induced in male Wistar rats by retrograde injection of 3% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct. Pancreata and serum were collected 12, 24, and 36 hours after injection and from normal controls (4 rats/group). RegIreceptor mRNA, serum regIprotein, and tissue regIprotein levels were determined by Northern analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western analysis, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize changes in regIand its receptor.
RESULTS: Serum amylase levels and histology confirmed necrotizing pancreatitis in taurocholate treated rats. There was no statistically significant change in serum regIconcentrations from controls. However, Western blot demonstrated increased tissue levels of regIat 24 and 36 h. This increase was localized primarily to the acinar cells and the ductal cells by immunohistochemistry. Northern blot demonstrated a significant increase in regIreceptor mRNA expression with pancreatitis. Immunohistochemistry localized this increase to the ductal cells, islets, and acinar cells.
CONCLUSION: Acute pancreatitis results in increased tissue regIprotein levels localized to the acinar and ductal cells, and a parallel threefold induction of regIreceptor in the ductal cells, islets, and acinar cells. These changes suggest that induction of regIand its receptor may be important for recovery from acute pancreatitis.