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Regulatory elements of pancreas development license the initiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Cellular plasticity and transitional cellular states are crucial for tissue regeneration across multiple organs. In the pancreas, oncogenic Kras hijacks this program, acting on tissue-specific enhancers to prevent the resolution of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and lock regeneration into a pro-inflammatory state that progresses to cancer. Enhancer transcription, an early event during cellular state transitions, can generate stable enhancer-associated long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) positioned near key transcription factors and chromatin contact boundaries, often enriched for disease-associated variants. While enhancer-associated lncRNAs have been implicated in transcriptional regulation and genome organization, their role in pancreas regeneration and cancer initiation has remained unexplored. In this study, we identified epithelial long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their target genes in PDAC precursor lesion formation. We demonstrate that LINC00673, expressed from a Sox9-associated super-enhancer during pancreatic development, is reactivated in PDAC. Conditional deletion of LINC00673 in the murine pancreatic epithelium accelerates resolution of ADM and significantly impairs PDAC initiation. Furthermore, we highlight a previously unrecognized role of transcribed super-enhancers in facilitating long-range gene regulation and genome organization during pancreatic cancer initiation. Our study identifies a critical function of LINC00673 in regulating both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous processes during pancreas regeneration and Kras-driven cancer initiation. These findings reveal a novel regulatory layer linking developmental enhancer activity to pancreatic disease progression and highlight new therapeutic opportunities targeting regenerative programs at the earliest stages of neoplastic transformation.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE316458 | GEO | 2026/01/16

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by desmoplastic stroma surrounding most tumors. Activated stromal fibroblasts, namely Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), play a major role in PDAC progression. Here we analyzed if CAFs influence acinar cells and impact PDAC initiation, namely “Acinar to Ductal Metaplasia” (ADM). ADM connection with PDAC pathophysiology is indicated but not yet established. Hence, we hypothesized that CAF secretome might play a significant role in ADM in PDAC initiation. Mouse and human acinar cell organoids, acinar cells cocultured with CAFs and exposed to CAF-conditioned media (CAF-CM), acinar cell explants, and CAF cocultures, etc., were examined by qRT-PCR, RNA-seq, immunoblotting and confocal microscopy. Data from LC-MS/MS analysis of CAF CM and RNAseq data of acinar cells post-CM exposure were integrated using bioinformatics tools to identify molecular mechanism for CAF-induced ADM. Using confocal microscopy, immunoblotting, and qRT-PCR analysis, we validated the depletion of key signaling axis in cell-line, acinar explant coculture, and mCAFs. Close association of acino-ductal (UEA1, Amylase, Ck19) markers and mCAFs (α-SMA) in LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+; Pdx1Cre (KPC) and LSL-KrasG12D/+; Pdx1Cre (KC) autochthonous progression tumor tissue was observed. Caerulein treatment-induced mCAFs increased Ck19 and decreased Amylase in wild-type (WT) and KC pancreas. Likewise, acinar-mCAF cocultures revealed induction of ductal transdifferentiation in cell-line, acinar-organoid, and explant coculture formats in WT and KC mice pancreas. Proteomic and transcriptomic data integration revealed a novel Laminin5/Integrinα4/Stat3 axis responsible for CAF-mediated acinar to ductal cell transdifferentiation. Results collectively suggest the first evidence for CAF-influenced acino-ductal phenotypic switchover, thus highlighting the role of the tumor micro-environment in the inception of pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Project description:We used single-cell RNA sequencing to profile mouse pancreas across models of acute pancreatitis (AP), recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), and oncogenic Kras-driven acute pancreatitis (K-AP, abbreviated APK). We captured both whole-pancreas cell suspensions and FACS-enriched mKate2+ epithelial populations from defined timepoints spanning early injury, recurrent damage, chronic inflammation, and Kras-driven precursor lesion formation. These data characterize acinar and epithelial plasticity and associated microenvironmental remodeling across pancreatitis and Kras-mediated disease initiation. BACKGROUND & AIMS: In response to injury, pancreatic acinar cells undergo acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM), marked by loss of acinar identity and acquisition of ductal features. While ADM can resolve to support tissue repair, it may also persist and serve as a precursor to pancreatic cancer. Whether diverse pancreatic stressors drive a shared or context-specific ADM program remains unclear. We sought to comprehensively define metaplastic responses to clinically relevant exocrine pancreas diseases known to increase cancer risk. METHODS: We profiled ADM and the surrounding microenvironment across mouse models of exocrine disease—including acute, recurrent, and chronic pancreatitis, as well as in the setting of oncogenic Kras—capturing over 300,000 single cells. To enable high-quality transcriptomic profiling in enzyme-rich tissue, we leveraged FixNCut, a method that preserves RNA integrity in the exocrine pancreas. Findings were validated in human pancreas tissue using CosMx spatial transcriptomics. RESULTS: We identify a conserved acinar response across disease contexts that gives rise to previously unrecognized distinct metaplastic states, including a “gateway” ADM population that precedes more advanced metaplastic states marked by complete loss of acinar identity. In pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) precancerous lesions, we detect classical-like and basal-like states, suggesting that pancreatic cancer subtypes are specified much earlier than previously appreciated. In Kras-mutant tissue, we identify a second wave of inflammation and the emergence of an immunosuppressive niche, coinciding with PanIN formation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings define a conserved program of acinar plasticity across exocrine pancreas diseases. We further link unresolved ADM to immune remodeling during precursor lesion formation and observe the emergence of pancreatic cancer subtypes in early PanIN lesions.

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Regulatory elements of pancreas development license the initiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

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