THE ACUTE-PHASE REACTION OF THE EXOCRINE PANCREAS - GENE-EXPRESSION AND SYNTHESIS OF PANCREATITIS-ASSOCIATED PROTEINS

In different tissues alteration of protein synthesis has been observed during acute stress. In this review we characterise the modulation of pancreatic protein synthesis during inflammation. A sustained decreas e of mRNA levels of In different tissues alteration of protein synthes is has been observed during secretory enzymes is accompanied by noncoo rdinated alterations of protein synthesis during the acute phase and t he recovery from pancreatitis. For that regulation both translational and transcriptional alterations are of importance. The most prominent finding was the expression of pancreatitis-associated proteins (PAP) i n humans or rats, which are absent in the normal gland but synthesised during acute pancreatitis. PAPs are pancreatic secretory proteins, th eir mRNA were cloned and sequenced and the sequence of encoded preprot eins of 175 amino acids were deduced. The PAP expression increased as a function of the severity of pancreatitis. It can be assayed in serum and may be used as a marker of the disease. Due to its affinity to ba cterial surfaces the PAP molecule could act as an endogenous antibioti c factor that prevents the bacterial infection of the inflamed pancrea s.