Cyclooxygenase 2 Expression in Chronic Pancreatitis: Correlation with Stage of the Disease and Diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: Fibrotic replacement of the exocrine pancreatic parenchyma and infiltration of inflammatory cells are the main characteristics of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Inflammation involves prostaglandin production in numerous inflammatory and noninflammatory cells, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is the dominant regulator of prostaglandin synthesis. Aims: In the present study, we analyzed the expression of COX-2, the key enzyme for prostaglandin synthesis in pancreatic tissues, and evaluated its relation to exocrine and endocrine tissue alterations in CP. Patients and Methods: Pancreatic tissue specimens from 27 patients undergoing pancreatic head resection for CP were included in the study. Pancreatic tissues from 14 organ donors served as controls. The tissue specimens were analyzed histopathologically and for COX-2 immunoreactivity. Results: In normal pancreatic tissue samples, COX-2 immunoreactivity was restricted to islet cells. In contrast, in early-stage CP, islets as well as ductal cells showed intense COX-2 immunoreactivity. In advanced-stage CP, ductal cells were still strongly positive for COX-2, yet islets displayed a variable COX-2 staining pattern which was associated with the distribution of insulin-positive cells and with the clinical diabetes mellitus status of the patient. Thus, patients with normal or latent diabetes mellitus status showed COX-2 immunoreactivity, whereas in diabetic patients the COX-2 immunoreactivity was decreased or absent in pancreatic islets. Conclusion: The presence of COX-2 in ductal cells of early and advanced CP, the relationship between COX-2 and insulin expression in the islets, and the diabetes mellitus status of CP patients suggest that this enzyme plays a role in the pathogenesis of exocrine and endocrine damage in CP.

Protective Effect of Grape Seed Polyphenols against High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress

“…40) Moreover, chronic renal dysfunction in human disease, such as diabetes mellitus and aging, increase COX-2 protein expression. 43,44) In our study, GSPs inhibited high glucose-induced COX-2 protein overexpression, but monomer GSPs showed a weaker inhibitory effect than other GSPs (oligomer, polymer, and oligonol) (Fig. 4).…”

Vitamin E Alters Inflammatory Gene Expression in Alcoholic Chronic Pancreatitis

“…COX-2 is directly related to the severity of pancreatic tissue inflammation, and its main function is to catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid products into prostaglandin [8,37,42]. Equally to this work, Schlosser et al [8] also found an increased expression of COX-2 in patients with ACP.…”

Distribution of Indian hedgehog and its receptors patched and smoothened in human chronic pancreatitis

“…Thirty-one patients with CP were categorized into three groups according to the preoperative glucose tolerance test (Koliopanos et al 2001): group A consisted of 14 patients with no history of disturbance of glucose metabolism and a normal preoperative glucose tolerance test; group B comprised 9 patients with no history of disturbance of glucose metabolism, but latent diabetes mellitus in the preoperative glucose tolerance test; and group C was made up of 8 patients with manifest diabetes mellitus (6 cases of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 2 cases on oral hypoglycemic therapy).…”