Pancreatitis-associated protein： From a lectin to an anti-inflammatory cytokine

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG 2007-01, Vol.13 (2), p.170-174
• Main Authors: Closa, Daniel, Motoo, Yoshiharu, Iovanna, Juan L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Neoplasm - chemistry; Antigens, Neoplasm - isolation & purification; Antigens, Neoplasm - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - chemistry; Biomarkers, Tumor - isolation & purification; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cytokines - chemistry; Cytokines - isolation & purification; Cytokines - metabolism; Inflammation Mediators - chemistry; Inflammation Mediators - isolation & purification; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Lectins - chemistry; Lectins, C-Type - chemistry; Lectins, C-Type - isolation & purification; Lectins, C-Type - metabolism; Pancreatitis - genetics; Pancreatitis - metabolism; Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; Rats; STAT3 Transcription Factor - metabolism; 细胞因子; 胰腺炎; 蛋白质; 血凝素
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i2.170

Pancreatitis-associated protein （PAP） was discovered in the pancreatic juice of rats with acute pancreatitis. PAP is a 16 kDa secretory protein structurally related to the C-type lectins although classical lectin-related function has not been reported yet. Then, it was demonstrated that PAP expression may be activated in some tissues in a constitutive or injury-and inflammation-induced manner. More recently, it has been found that PAP acts as an anti-inflammatory factor in vitro and in vivo.PAP expression can be induced by several pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and by itself through a JAK/STAT3-dependent pathway. PAP is able to activate the expression of the anti-inflammatory factor SOCS3 through the JAK/STAT3-dependent pathway. The JAK/STAT3/SOCS3 pathway seems to be a common point between PAP and several cytokines. Therefore, it is reasonable to propose that PAP is a new anti-inflammatory cytokine.