Objective We describe the first mouse model of pancreatic intra-epithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions induced by alcohol in the presence and absence of chronic pancreatitis. Methods Pdx1-Cre; LSL-Kras (KC) mice were exposed to Lieber-DeCarli alcohol diet for 6 weeks with cerulein injections. PanIN lesions and markers of fibrosis, inflammation, histone de-acetylation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stemness were measured by immuno-histochemistry and Western. Results Exposure of KC mice to an alcohol diet significantly stimulated fibrosis and slightly, but not significantly, increased the level of PanIN lesions associated with an increase in tumor-promoting M2-macrophages. Importantly, the alcohol diet did not increase activation of stellate cells. Alcohol diet and cerulein injections resulted in synergistic and additive effects on PanIN lesion and M2-Macrophage phenotype induction, respectively. Cerulein-pancreatitis caused stellate cell activation, EMT, and cancer stemness in the pancreas. Pancreatitis caused histone deacetylation which was promoted by the alcohol diet. Pancreatitis increased EMT and cancer stemness markers which not further affected by the alcohol diet. Conclusion The results suggest that alcohol has independent effects on promotion of PDAC associated with fibrosis formed through a stellate cell-independent mechanism and that it further promotes early PDAC and M2 macrophage induction in the context of chronic pancreatitis.

These data suggest an important role of 12/15-LOX in the pathogenesis of OA. They also suggest that activation of this pathway may provide a novel strategy for prevention and treatment of OA.

These findings indicate a critical role for DP1 signaling in OA pathogenesis. Modulation of the functions of DP1 may constitute a potential therapeutic target for the development of novel OA treatments.

Foreskin, considered a biological waste material, has been shown to be a reservoir of therapeutic cells. The immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) from the foreskin (FSK-MSCs) are being evaluated in cell-based therapy for degenerative, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Within the injured/inflamed tissue, proinflammatory lymphocytes such as IL-17-producing T helper cells (Th17) may interact with the stromal microenvironment, including MSCs. In this context, MSCs may encounter different levels of T cells as well as specific inflammatory signals. Uncovering the cellular and molecular changes during this interplay is central for developing an efficient and safe immunotherapeutic tool. To this end, an in vitro human model of cocultures of FSK-MSCs and T cells was established. These cocultures were performed at different cell ratios in the presence of an inflammatory setting. After confirming that FSK-MSCs respond to ISCT criteria by showing a typical phenotype and multilineage potential, we evaluated by flow cytometry the expression of Th17 cell markers IL-17A, IL23 receptor and RORγt within the lymphocyte population. We also measured 15 human Th17 pathway-related cytokines. Regardless of the T cell/MSC ratio, we observed a significant increase in IL-17A expression associated with an increase in IL-23 receptor expression. Furthermore, we observed substantial modulation of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-25, IL-31, IL-33, INF-γ, sCD40, and TNF-α secretion. These findings suggest that FSK-MSCs are receptive to their environment and modulate the T cell response accordingly. The changes within the secretome of the stromal and immune environment are likely relevant for the therapeutic effect of MSCs. FSK-MSCs represent a valuable cellular product for immunotherapeutic purposes that needs to be further clarified and developed.