The role of pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic disorders

Cancer Diagnostics Conference & Expo

June 13-15, 2016 Rome, Italy

Oleg V Gerasimenko

Cardiff University, UK

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

Normally quiescent pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) become activated in chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic cancer (PC). PC is characterized by an excessive desmoplastic reaction and a hypoxic microenvironment within the solid tumour mass. The most common form of PC is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. CP patients are at significant risk of developing PC. Activation of PSCs during pancreatic injury induces proliferation as well as secretion of extracellular matrix components, thereby playing an important role in the fibrosis that occurs in CP and PC. Our new data show that PSCs cells in their normal microenvironment (isolated mouse pancreatic lobules) are far from quiescent and capable of generating substantial Ca2+ signals. We have found that bradykinin (BK), at slightly above physiological plasma levels, consistently elicited substantial Ca2+ signals in PSCs, but never in neighboring PACs. The BK-induced Ca2+ signals were mediated by bradykinin type 2 (B2) receptors, while B2 receptor blockade protected against PAC necrosis evoked by agents causing acute pancreatitis. The initial BK-induced Ca2+ rise in PSCs was due to Ca2+ release from the internal stores, whereas the sustained phase was fully depended on external Ca2+ entry through store-operated (CRAC) channels. CRAC channel blockers inhibited Ca2+ signal generation in PSCs and therefore should be particularly beneficial in acute pancreatitis development and treatment. Our work indicates that combined treatment with inhibitors of CRAC channel and B2 receptor could be potentially useful against progression to PC.

Biography :

Oleg V Gerasimenko has completed his PhD in 1991 from Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine. Currently, he is a Reader in Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK. He has published 68 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of Pflugers Archiv. He is a Member of Faculty of 1000 students (Gastro-intestinal Physiology), The Physiological Society (UK), British Society for Cell Biology and European Calcium Society.

Email: GerasimenkoOV@cardiff.ac.uk