Acinar cell clonal expansion in pancreas homeostasis and carcinogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide¹. Studies in human tissues and in mouse models have suggested that for many cancers, stem cells sustain early mutations driving tumour development^2,3. For the pancreas, however, mechanisms underlying cellular renewal and initiation of PDAC remain unresolved. Here, using lineage tracing from the endogenous telomerase reverse transcriptase (Tert) locus, we identify a rare TERT-positive subpopulation of pancreatic acinar cells dispersed throughout the exocrine compartment. During homeostasis, these TERT^high acinar cells renew the pancreas by forming expanding clones of acinar cells, whereas randomly marked acinar cells do not form these clones. Specific expression o

SUBMITTER: Neuhofer P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9347609 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature