Integrins are the glue that maintain cell-to-cell adhesion and are found in nearly all cell types and function as heterodimeric cell surface receptors. Although not regarded as active signaling receptors in the basal state, integrins transduce signals that regulate fibrosis, angiogenesis, cellular migration, and other wound-healing processes during pathologic conditions.1,2 In this issue of Cel...

background: acute pancreatitis (ap) refers to afflicted inflammation of pancreas with unfavorable adverse effects and developed multiple organ failures. unfortunately, there is not a certain therapeutic method for this disease. oxidative stress has a serious role in the pathogenesis of ap. thus, decreasing of oxidative stress may prevent induction and progression of ap. punica granatum l. has b...

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have an anti-fibrogenic function in the kidney, lung, and liver. However, their role in chronic pancreatitis (CP) is unknown. The aim of this study was to define the anti-fibrogenic role of BMP signaling in the pancreas in vivo under CP induction. Mice with a deletion of BMP type II receptor (BMPR2(+/-)) were used in this study in comparison with wild-type mic...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP) for many years but experimental evidence is still limited. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2)-deficient mice are an accepted model of age-related oxidative stress. Here, we have analysed how UCP2 deficiency affects the severity of experimental AP in young and older mice (3 and 12 months old, respectively)...