Nanoceria Ameliorates Fibrosis, Inflammation, and Cellular Stress in Experimental Chronic Pancreatitis

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory, irreversible disorder of the pancreas which leads to organ atrophy and poses high risk for the development of pancreatic cancer. Given the lack of clinically approved therapy, we explored the pharmacological potential of the nanoparticles of cerium oxide (nanoceria, NC) against animal models of CP. Nanoceria ameliorated the features of CP as evident from biochemical parameters. It inhibited the inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by abrogation of macrophage signaling. Further, NC attenuated the fibrogenesis by inhibition of TGF-β signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Our findings reveal the anti-CP potential of the novel redox regenerative nanoceria against two models of CP.