Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Suppressing Inflammation in Pancreatic Stellate Cells Treated with Ethanol and Cerulein

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Physiology and Health

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Hongjun Wang, Medical University of South Carolina

Abstract

An inflamed and scarred pancreas is a major characteristic of chronic pancreatitis. No exact cause has been determined, but certain factors, such as heavy drinking and family history, have been shown to play a role in chronic pancreatitis. The purpose of this experiment was to test a stem cell treatment that could suppress symptoms of chronic pancreatitis, such as inflammation and fibrosis (the scarring of the pancreas). In order to model chronic pancreatitis symptoms, pancreatic stellate cells were treated with ethanol and cerulein to induce inflammation and fibrosis. Our hypothesis was that a treatment with adipose-derived stem cells decreases ethanol and cerulein-induced inflammation in pancreatic stellate cells. The expression of four genes (Beta Actin, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, Fibronectin, and Interleukin-6) was monitored in order to test this hypothesis. The expression of each of these four genes plays a significant role in fibrosis and inflammation. Our qPCR results confirm that the expression of these four genes decreased as a result of the treatment of pancreatic stellate cells with adipose-derived stem cells. These results strongly suggest that adipose-derived stem cells could be an effective treatment for chronic pancreatitis.

Location

Wall 318

Start Date

3-25-2017 8:30 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 8:30 AM

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Suppressing Inflammation in Pancreatic Stellate Cells Treated with Ethanol and Cerulein

Wall 318

An inflamed and scarred pancreas is a major characteristic of chronic pancreatitis. No exact cause has been determined, but certain factors, such as heavy drinking and family history, have been shown to play a role in chronic pancreatitis. The purpose of this experiment was to test a stem cell treatment that could suppress symptoms of chronic pancreatitis, such as inflammation and fibrosis (the scarring of the pancreas). In order to model chronic pancreatitis symptoms, pancreatic stellate cells were treated with ethanol and cerulein to induce inflammation and fibrosis. Our hypothesis was that a treatment with adipose-derived stem cells decreases ethanol and cerulein-induced inflammation in pancreatic stellate cells. The expression of four genes (Beta Actin, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, Fibronectin, and Interleukin-6) was monitored in order to test this hypothesis. The expression of each of these four genes plays a significant role in fibrosis and inflammation. Our qPCR results confirm that the expression of these four genes decreased as a result of the treatment of pancreatic stellate cells with adipose-derived stem cells. These results strongly suggest that adipose-derived stem cells could be an effective treatment for chronic pancreatitis.