Acid-base interactions during exocrine pancreatic secretion. Primary role for ductal bicarbonate in acinar lumen...

The role of acid-base interactions during coordinated acinar and duct cell secretion in the exocrine pancreas is described. The sequence of acid-base events may be summarized as follows: (1) Sorting of secretory proteins and membrane components into the regulated secretory pathway of pancreatic acinar cells is triggered by acid- and calcium-induced aggregation and association mechanisms located in the trans-Golgi network. (2) Cholecystokinin-stimulated exocytosis in acinar cells releases the acidic contents of secretory granules into the acinar lumen. (3) Secretin-stimulated bicarbonate secretion from duct and duct-like cells neutralizes the acidic pH of exocytic contents, which leads to dissociation of protein aggregates and solubilization of (pro)enzymes within the acinar lumen. (4) Stimulated fluid secretion transports solubilized enzymes through the ductal system. (5) Further alkalinization of acinar lumen pH accelerates the enzymatic cleavage of the glycosyl phosphatidyl-inositol anchor associated with GP2 and thus releases the GP2/proteoglycan matrix from lumenal membranes, a process that appears to be required for vesicular retrieval of granule membranes from the apical plasma membrane and their reuse in the secretory process. We conclude that the central function of bicarbonate secretion by centroacinar and duct cells in the pancreas is to neutralize and then alkalinize the pH of the acinar lumen, sequential process that are required for (a) solubilization of secreted proteins and (b) cellular retrieval of granule membranes, respectively.