Editorial
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2010; 16(32): 3995-4002
Published online Aug 28, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i32.3995
Essential role of monocytes and macrophages in the progression of acute pancreatitis
Pratima Shrivastava, Madhav Bhatia
Pratima Shrivastava, Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
Madhav Bhatia, Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Author contributions: Shrivastava P wrote the first draft of the manuscript under the supervision of Bhatia M; Bhatia M provided the direction and wrote the final version.
Correspondence to: Madhav Bhatia, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch, 2 Riccarton Avenue, PO Box 4345, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. madhav.bhatia@otago.ac.nz
Telephone: +64-3-3786238 Fax: +64-3-3640009
Received: April 1, 2010
Revised: May 31, 2010
Accepted: June 7, 2010
Published online: August 28, 2010
Abstract

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas caused by an imbalance in factors involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Earliest events in AP occur within acinar cells accompanied by other principal contributors to the inflammatory response i.e. the endothelial cells, immunocytes (granulocytes, monocytes/macrophages, lymphocytes) and neutrophils. Monocytes/macrophages are important inflammatory mediators, involved in the pathophysiology of AP, known to reside in the peritoneal cavity (in the vicinity of the pancreas) and in peripancreatic tissue. Recent studies suggested that impaired clearance of injured acini by macrophages is associated with an altered cytokine reaction which may constitute a basis for progression of AP. This review focuses on the role of monocytes/macrophages in progression of AP and discusses findings on the inflammatory process involved.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Monocytes; Peritoneal macrophages; Alveolar macrophages; Kupffer cells