Caerulein modulates the ghrelin system in the pancreatic acini

Abstract

Alterations in intracellular calcium levels and enzyme secretion in acinar cells are involved in the pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis (CP). It has been previously shown that alcohol induces an increase of intracellular calcium, but its effect in enzyme secretion is controversial. The effect of tobacco in this context is unknown. Hypothesis: Tobacco, similarly to alcohol, promotes the development of CP by altering intracellular calcium levels and enzyme secretion in acinar cells. Aim: To evaluate the effect of tobacco compared with alcohol in intracellular calcium levels and amylase secretion in pancreatic acinar cells. Methods: Experimental in-vitro study on primary acinar cell culture. Acinar cells were isolated by enzymatic and mechanic degradation from Swiss mice pancreas. Cells were stimulated by increasing concentrations of alcohol (10-100 mM) and tobacco (0.1-0.5 mg/ml), and with CCK as positive control. Intracellular calcium levels were measured by fluorescence and amylase secretion by using p-nitrophenyl-maltohexaoside as substrate. Data were analysed by ANOVA. Results: Tobacco induced a dose-dependent increase of intracellular calcium levels from 11.38 4.89% (0.1 mg/ml) to 56.26 13.14% (0.5 mg/ml). A similar effect was observed with alcohol [14.40 2.06% (10 mM) to 59.8 2.57% (75mM)]. This was associated with an amylase hypersecretion with tobacco (up to 21% at 0.4 mg/ml), but not with alcohol. Conclusions: Both tobacco and alcohol induce a similar increase of intracellular calcium levels in pancreatic acinar cell, but this is associated with an increased amylase secretion only with tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco have a different effect in pancreatic acinar cells and should play a different role in the pathophysiology of CP. Abstracts / Pancreato 510