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Assessing the Secretory Capacity of Pancreatic Acinar Cells
Published on: August 28, 2014
Intermediate endocrine-acinar pancreatic cells in duct ligation conditions
1Department of Anatomy, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Insights
Pancreatic duct ligation induced intermediate cells expressing both endocrine (insulin) and exocrine (amylase) markers. These findings suggest a transdifferentiation process in pancreatic cells.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Endocrinology
- Histology
Background:
- The pancreas has distinct endocrine and exocrine functions.
- Cell plasticity and differentiation are crucial in tissue regeneration and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the appearance and characteristics of intermediate pancreatic cells following duct ligation.
- To explore the potential for transdifferentiation between endocrine and exocrine pancreatic cells.
Main Methods:
- Pancreatic duct ligation in vivo.
- Immunocytochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy.
- In situ hybridization.
- Cell culture.
Main Results:
- Duct ligation led to the emergence of cells coexpressing insulin and amylase.
- These endocrine-acinar cells were found in islets, acinar tissue, and cell cultures.
- Cells contained distinct secretory granules for insulin and amylase, with some co-localization.
- Evidence of crinophagy and autophagy involving these proteins was observed.
- Insulin and amylase mRNAs were detected in these cells via in situ hybridization.
Conclusions:
- Pancreatic duct ligation induces the formation of intermediate endocrine-acinar cells.
- These cells represent potential intermediate steps in a pancreatic cell transdifferentiation process.
- Understanding this plasticity may offer insights into pancreatic regeneration and disease pathology.
Abstract:
When tissues were subjected to 24 h of duct ligation, intermediate pancreatic cells simultaneously displaying endocrine and exocrine phenotypes appeared. Immunocytochemistry by laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed the appearance of a large number of these cells coexpressing insulin and amylase. These cells were located within the islets of Langerhans as well as in the acinar parenchyma. They were also detected in a culture system of isolated pancreatic cells. With the use of immunoelectron microscopy, two types of secretory granules were identified in these cells. One was insulin immunoreactive, whereas the other, resembling zymogen granules, contained amylase. Occasionally, some small granules displayed a double labeling for both secretory proteins. Numerous crinophagic bodies and autophagosomes containing insulin and/or amylase were also present. In situ hybridization, applied with the specific probes, confirmed the presence of both insulin and amylase mRNAs in these cells. Because duct ligation is known to induce insulin cell proliferation, the present results confirm that endocrine-acinar cells do appear in such condition and may represent intermediate steps in a transdifferentiating process.
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