Influence of pancreatic acinar cell necrosis on stellate cell proliferation in vitro

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) are coupled to acinar cells morphologically, but nothing is known about their functional relationships, especially in acute pancreatitis. To shed some light on this issue we compared both cell types in pure and co-cultures. After the first day of cultivation 90% of acini were damaged. Cell debris and digestive proteases were released into medium, mimicking conditions of pancreatic necrosis. Under these conditions PSC adhesion was inhibited, but division rate stimulated. As shown by RT-PCR and immune-staining cultured PSC express acinar specific proteins, in a time-dependent manner but independent from any acinar state. These data correspond with results of CCK-induced calcium release. Thus our data indicate that pancreatitis-related PSC transformation is affected by cultivation time and by the state of co-cultivated acinar cells in vitro. These cellular interactions are probably an important part of regeneration of pancreatic tissue.