Acute pancreatitis is a painful, life-threatening disorder for which there are no targeted therapies. We and others have shown that pathologic calcium signals within the pancreatic acinar cell initiate early pancreatitis responses. Further, we have hypothesized that the calcium-dependent serine, threonine phosphatase calcineurin (CN) is a novel target of this pathological calcium signal. Thus, we propose to use genetic and pharmacologic strategies to (Aim 1) examine the role of CN in clinically relevant experimental models of pancreatitis in vivo [1a, intra-ductal bile acid infusion;1b, post-ERCP;1c, alcohol sensitized], to (Aim 2) determine the contribution of acinar cell CN to pancreatitis in isolated acinar cells using CN inhibitors, adenoviral transfection of CN constructs, and cells from CN transgenics, as well as (Aim 3) in vivo using inducible, acinar cell specific CN transgenics that either endogenously reduce CN activity or delete CN. Our preliminary data support our hypothesis and the feasibility of the planned studies by showing that mice either treated with the CN inhibitor FK506 or genetically deficient in CN (CN A2 KOs) have markedly reduced pancreatitis severity in an in vivo model of intra-ductal bile infusion. We also show that in isolated acinar cells using chemical CN inhibition or cells from CN deficient mice that intra-acinar protease activation is reduced. It is anticipated that these studies (1) will provide a basis for understanding the role of the calcium phosphatase CN in various forms of pancreatitis and (2) will lay the framework for novel clinical trials that target pancreatitis using CN inhibitors.

Public Health Relevance

Acute pancreatitis is a painful and life-threatening disease of the pancreas for which we have no specific treatments. Based on the fact that calcium signals within the pancreas are required for pancreatitis to occur, our proposal seeks to examine the role of an important calcium target protein called calcineurin. We will use animal models of pancreatitis that mimic three common human causes, namely, gallstones, alcohol abuse, and a complication of an endoscopic procedure called an ERCP. We are hopeful that our studies will lead to clinical trials that test the use of already available calcineurin blocking drugs for the treatment of pancreatitis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DK093491-01
Application #
8216317
Study Section
Clinical, Integrative and Molecular Gastroenterology Study Section (CIMG)
Program Officer
Serrano, Jose
Project Start
2011-09-24
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2011-09-24
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$331,925
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Wen, Li; Javed, Tanveer A; Yimlamai, Dean et al. (2018) Transient High Pressure in Pancreatic Ducts Promotes Inflammation and Alters Tight Junctions via Calcineurin Signaling in Mice. Gastroenterology 155:1250-1263.e5
Boggs, Kristy; Wang, Ting; Orabi, Abrahim I et al. (2018) Pancreatic gene expression during recovery after pancreatitis reveals unique transcriptome profiles. Sci Rep 8:1406
Orabi, Abrahim I; Wen, Li; Javed, Tanveer A et al. (2017) Targeted inhibition of pancreatic acinar cell calcineurin is a novel strategy to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 3:119-128
Huang, Yue; Liu, Chi; Eisses, John F et al. (2016) A supervised learning framework for pancreatic islet segmentation with multi-scale color-texture features and rolling guidance filters. Cytometry A 89:893-902
Le, Tianming; Eisses, John F; Lemon, Kathryn L et al. (2015) Intraductal infusion of taurocholate followed by distal common bile duct ligation leads to a severe necrotic model of pancreatitis in mice. Pancreas 44:493-9
Orabi, Abrahim I; Sah, Swati; Javed, Tanveer A et al. (2015) Dynamic imaging of pancreatic nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B) activation in live mice using adeno-associated virus (AAV) infusion and bioluminescence. J Biol Chem 290:11309-20
Eisses, John F; Criscimanna, Angela; Dionise, Zachary R et al. (2015) Valproic Acid Limits Pancreatic Recovery after Pancreatitis by Inhibiting Histone Deacetylases and Preventing Acinar Redifferentiation Programs. Am J Pathol 185:3304-15
Jin, Shunqian; Orabi, Abrahim I; Le, Tianming et al. (2015) Exposure to Radiocontrast Agents Induces Pancreatic Inflammation by Activation of Nuclear Factor-?B, Calcium Signaling, and Calcineurin. Gastroenterology 149:753-64.e11
Lewarchik, Christopher M; Orabi, Abrahim I; Jin, Shunqian et al. (2014) The ryanodine receptor is expressed in human pancreatic acinar cells and contributes to acinar cell injury. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 307:G574-81
Reed, Anamika M; Kolodecik, Thomas; Husain, Sohail Z et al. (2014) Low pH enhances connexin32 degradation in the pancreatic acinar cell. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 307:G24-32

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