Determination of plasma trypsin-like activity in healthy subjects, patients with mild to moderate alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, and patients with nonjaundice pancreatic cancer

Release of immunomodulatory peptides at bacterial membrane interfaces as a novel strategy to fight microorganisms

Cationic and amphiphilic peptides can be used as homing devices to accumulate conjugated antibiotics to bacteria-enriched sites and promote efficient microbial killing. However, just as important as tackling bacterial infections, is the modulation of the immune response in this complex microenvironment. In the present report, we designed a peptide chimaera called Chim2, formed by a membrane-active module, an enzyme hydrolysis site, and a formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) agonist. This molecule was designed to adsorb onto bacterial membranes, promote their lysis, and upon hydrolysis by local enzymes, release the FPR2 agonist sequence for activation and recruitment of immune cells. We synthesized the isolated peptide modules of Chim2 and characterized their biological activities independently and as a single polypeptide chain. We conducted antimicrobial assays, along with other tests aiming at the analyses of the cellular and immunological responses. In addition, assays using vesicles as models of eukaryotic and prokaryotic membranes were conducted, and solution structures of Chim2 were generated by ¹H NMR. Chim2 is antimicrobial, adsorbs preferentially to negatively charged vesicles while adopting an α-helix structure, and exposes its disorganized tail to the solvent, which facilitates hydrolysis by tryptase-like enzymes, allowing the release of the FPR2 agonist fragment. This fragment was shown to induce accumulation of the cellular activation marker, lipid bodies, in mouse macrophages and the release of immunomodulatory interleukins. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that peptides with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities can be considered for further development as drugs.

[Capabilities of ultrasonic histography in the evaluation of the degree of pancreatic fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis]

AIM

To analyze the clinical and pathogenetic significance of ultrasonic histography in pancreatic fibrosis in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

One hundred and eighty-six patients with CP were examined. Complete blood count, urinalysis, biochemical blood and urine tests, duodenal intubation test, coproscopy, enzyme immunoassay, and radioimmune assay were performed. The levels of blood transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and fecal elastase-1 were measured. Ultrasonography and ultrasonic histography of the pancreas and liver, Doppler sound study of the abdominal aorta, celiac trunk, and superior mesenteric artery were carried out.

RESULTS

There were correlations suggesting the decreased exocrine function of the pancreas as its fibrosis progressed, which was indirectly reflected in the increased L index of an ultrasonic histogram. The positive correlation between L index and TGFβ1 also showed increased L index in more obvious pancreatic fibrosis. A CP exacerbation was shown to be accompanied by decreased Kgst and N, which was confirmed by pronounced hyperenzymenia (the blood enzyme release phenomenon) with the decrease of those indicators. Pancreatic fibrosis was reflected in the magnitude of clinical manifestations of CP, particularly in the rise of the number of dyspeptic complaints showing diminished pancreatic exocrine secretion. This was also supported by the fact that as the L index increased, the debit hour of lipase and the activity of fecal elastase-1 decreased. There were correlations pointing to more significant fibrosis of the pancreas and its insufficiency with worsened blood flow in it. Moreover, ultrasonic histographic findings accounted for a positive correlation between pancreatic and hepatic fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

Examination of ultrasonic histographic correlations of the pancreas has led to the conclusion that this technique may be used to indirectly estimate the degree of pancreatic fibrosis and a CP exacerbation.

What are the useful biological and functional markers of early-stage chronic pancreatitis?

Early-stage chronic pancreatitis may be undetected as a clinical entity. However, it may carry a definite risk for subsequent secondary damage, depending on the etiology of the disease. Therefore, the most important question is whether indeed the patient in question does have early-stage chronic pancreatitis rather than oligosymptomatic advanced-stage chronic pancreatitis. This can be easily determined by appropriate imaging such as abdominal computed tomography. For early changes, endoscopic ultrasound is superior to any other technique. Endosonography may also tell about anatomical obstacles (e.g., papillary stenosis, pancreas divisum) that may be treated to prevent progression of the disease. Treatment options at this stage are endoscopic for the most part. Depending on the etiology and familiar/hereditary background of the given patient, one must look further into molecular markers. Such markers may give an estimate on the progression or dynamics of the disease in the future and include mutations in the cationic (PRSS1) and anionic (PRSS2) trypsinogen genes as well as mutations in the serine protease (SPINK1) or cystic fibrosis (CFTR) genes. Admitted ly, these are not markers of early-stage chronic pancreatitis but must be investigated if and when such pathogenesis is suspected. Further, rare forms of chronic pancreatitis, such as autoimmune pancreatitis, which can be cured by appropriate medical treatment with steroids, must be excluded. Markers for autoimmune pancreatitis are elevated serum IgG, especially IgG4, and autoantibodies to carbonic anhydrase (type II) and lactoferrin. It is noteworthy that these markers, present in almost every Asian patient with autoimmune pancreatitis, are mostly lacking in Caucasian populations of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis.