Monocytes infiltrate the pancreas via the MCP-1/CCR2 pathway and differentiate into stellate cells.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have shown that monocytes possess pluripotent plasticity. We previously reported that monocytes could differentiate into hepatic stellate cells. Although stellate cells are also present in the pancreas, their origin remains unclear. An accumulation of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)(+)CD45(-) cells was observed in the pancreases and livers of chimeric mice, which were transplanted with a single hematopoietic stem cell isolated from EGFP-transgenic mice and treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Because the vast majority of EGFP(+)CD45(-) cells in the pancreas expressed stellate cell-associated antigens such as vimentin, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, procollagen-I, and α-smooth muscle actin, they were characterized as pancreatic stellate cells (PaSCs).

SUBMITTER: Ino K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3885670 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature