Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0030305 (pancreatitis)
 16,014 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Fourteen pancreatic calculi from the corresponding number of pancreatic lithiasis patients were examined mineralogically and histochemically. The following results were obtained. The main components of calculi were calcium carbonate in 13 of the 14 cases, and calcium phosphate in the remaining one. Calcium carbonate calculi were all so-called intraductal calculi, with acidic glycoprotein apparently enwrapping the component particles. Acidic glycoproteins acted to bridge calcium carbonate particles, as in the cases of gallstone and urinary stone. The calcium phosphate calculus had a histochemical feature of pathologic calcification with degenerated collagen fibrils as the matrix, suggesting the calcification of the fibrotic pancreatic parenchyma after pancreatitis.
 ...
PMID:Histochemical studies of pancreatic calculi. 115 70

Chronic calcifying pancreatitis (CCP) is characterized by the presence of stones in pancreatic ducts. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is the main constituent of stones, to which is associated an organic matrix consisting primarily of one protein of Mr 14,000, the pancreatic stone protein or PSP. PSP is not present as such in pancreatic juice, but in polymorphic forms with higher molecular weights. These secretory forms (PSP S2-5, Mr 16-19,000) are synthesized in the acinar cells of the pancreas and secreted along the same secretory pathway as the exocrine enzymes. The heterogeneity of the forms of higher Mr (PSP S2-5) is probably due to different glycosylation patterns. PSP and PSP S1 are generated by the cleavage of an Arg-Ile bond in the N-terminal part of PSP S2-5. The N-terminal sequence of PSP (40 amino acids) is identical to that of PSP S1, whose complete sequence (133 amino acids) has been determined. Yet, the two proteins differ by their pI. Pancreatic juice is normally supersaturated in CaCO3, suggesting the presence of a stabilizer preventing CaCO3 precipitation. The PSP S could play that role, since an activity inhibiting the nucleation and growth in vitro of CaCO3 crystals was found in pancreatic juice, associated with these proteins. Moreover, PSP S concentration was significantly lower in the pancreatic juice of patients with CCP than in control patients. Proteins homologous to PSP S were also found in the dog, rat, swine, monkey and ox. They constitute a new family of pancreatic secretory proteins, whose biological role would be to maintain pancreatic juice in a stable state towards CaCO3.
 ...
PMID:The human pancreatic stone protein. 314 13

Pancreatic stones that were removed from the pancreatic ducts of patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis were decalcified so the organic matrix could be studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The observations made by scanning electron microscopy were compared with those made on undecalcified stones, and the findings were correlated with light microscopic observations. After the calcium carbonate was removed, the stones consisted of multiple partitions arranged like a sponge. They were embedded in a gel-like matrix. The organic partitions frequently were composed of dense surface layers and sparse central reticular accumulations, which had surrounded and bound calcium carbonate crystals. The organic matrix was heterogeneous in texture. Some areas had dense, regular, proteinaceous fibrous material. Deposits resembling fibrin were observed. Altered cellular constituents appeared to make up minor portions of the matrix. Calcium carbonate, which was precipitated in vitro in pancreatic juice, resembled the morphology of pancreatic stones more than that of pure calcium carbonate crystals. These results are consistent with the coformation of pancreatic stones from constituents in the pancreatic juice [including pancreatic stone protein (PSP), glycosaminoglycans, and occasional cells] and precipitated calcium carbonate.
 ...
PMID:Fine structure of the organic matrix of human pancreatic stones. 357 6