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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Aug 15, 2014; 5(3): 169-177
Published online Aug 15, 2014. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v5.i3.169
Potential role of NADPH oxidase in pathogenesis of pancreatitis
Wei-Li Cao, Xiao-Hui Xiang, Kai Chen, Wei Xu, Shi-Hai Xia
Wei-Li Cao, Xiao-Hui Xiang, Kai Chen, Wei Xu, Shi-Hai Xia, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, Tianjin 300162, China
Author contributions: Cao WL and Xiang XH contributed equally to this work; Xia SH contributed to the conception of this work; Cao WL, Xiang XH, Chen K and Xu W prepared the manuscript; Xia SH revised and approved the manuscript.
Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81173393; the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City, No. 12YFJZJC00800; the Scientific Research Foundation (No. WHM201222, FYM201114) and the Innovation Team Program (No. WHTD201310) from Logistics University of the Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces
Correspondence to: Shi-Hai Xia, MD, PhD, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin 300162, China. xshhcx@sina.com
Telephone: +86-22-60578765 Fax: +86-22-24370605
Received: December 27, 2013
Revised: June 1, 2014
Accepted: June 14, 2014
Published online: August 15, 2014
Processing time: 250 Days and 23.8 Hours
Abstract

Studies have demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are closely related to inflammatory disorders. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX), originally found in phagocytes, is the main source of ROS in nonphagocytic cells. Besides directly producing the detrimental highly reactive ROS to act on biomolecules (lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids), NOX can also activate multiple signal transduction pathways, which regulate cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis by producing ROS. Recently, research on pancreatic NOX is no longer limited to inflammatory cells, but extends to the aspect of pancreatic acinar cells and pancreatic stellate cells, which are considered to be potentially associated with pancreatitis. In this review, we summarize the literature on NOX protein structure, activation, function and its role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis.

Keywords: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase; Reactive oxygen species; Pancreatitis; Pancreatic acinar cells; Pancreatic stellate cells

Core tip: Besides directly producing the detrimental highly reactive reactive oxygen species (ROS) to act on biomolecules, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase can also activate multiple signal transduction pathways, which regulate cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis by producing ROS. Recently, research on pancreatic NADPH oxidase is no longer limited to inflammatory cells, but extends to the aspect of pancreatic acinar cells and pancreatic stellate cells, which are considered to be potentially associated with pancreatitis.