Differentially expressed proteins in cerulein-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells: Implication for acute pancreatitis

The proteins expressed in pancreatic acinar cells during the initiation of acute pancreatitis may determine the severity of the disease. Cerulein pancreatitis is one of the best characterized models for acute pancreatitis. Present study aims to determine the differentially expressed proteins in cerulein-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells as an in vitro model for acute pancreatitis. Rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells were treated with 10^-8 M cerulein for 12 h. The protein patterns separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis using pH gradients of 5-8 were compared between the cells treated without cerulein and those with cerulein. The changed proteins were conclusively identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis of the peptide digests. As a result, 10 proteins (Orp150 protein, protein disulfide isomerase related protein, dnaK-type molecular chaperone hsp72-ps1, mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase, similar to chaperonin containing TCP-1 beta subunit, RuvB-like protein 1, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1, aldehyde reductase 1, triosephosphate isomerase 1, peroxiredoxin 2) were up-regulated while four proteins (vasolin-containing protein, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein precursor, heat shock protein 8, adenosylhomocysteinase) were down-regulated by cerulein in pancreatic acinar AR42J cells. These proteins are related to chaperone, cell defense mechanism against oxidative stress or DNA damage, anti-apoptosis and energy generation. The differentially expressed proteins by ceruein share their functional roles in pancreatic acinar cells, suggesting the possible involvement of oxidative stress, DNA damage, and anti-apoptosis in pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. Proteins involved in cellular defense mechanism and energy production may protect pancreatic acinar cells during the development of pancreatitis.