The Role of Heparanase in the Pathogenesis of Acute Pancreatitis: A Potential Therapeutic Target.

ABSTRACT: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common diseases in gastroenterology. However, neither the etiology nor the pathophysiology of the disease is fully understood and no specific or effective treatment has been developed. Heparanase is an endoglycosidase that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) side chains of HS sulfate proteoglycans into shorter oligosaccharides, activity that is highly implicated in cellular invasion associated with cancer metastasis and inflammation. Given that AP involves a strong inflammatory aspect, we examined whether heparanase plays a role in AP. Here, we provide evidence that pancreatic heparanase expression and activity are significantly increased following cerulein treatment. Moreover, pancreas edema and inflammation, as well as the induction of cytokines and si

SUBMITTER: Khamaysi I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5429646 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature