ABSTRACT
Diseases ............................................................................................ 256 13.5.1 The EGF Receptor Family and Its Ligands in the
Normal Pancreas ................................................................. 257 13.5.2 The EGF Receptor Family and Its Ligands in AP............ 257 13.5.3 The EGF Receptor Family and Its Ligands in CP............ 258 13.5.4 The EGF Receptor Family and Its Ligands in PC............ 259
13.6 The Hepatocyte Growth Factor and MET Receptor in Pancreatic Diseases.......................................................................... 261 13.6.1 HGF and MET in AP .......................................................... 261 13.6.2 HGF and MET in CP .......................................................... 262 13.6.3 HGF and MET in PC .......................................................... 262
13.7 The Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors and Their Ligands in Pancreatic Diseases ..................................................................... 262 13.7.1 FGFs and Receptors in the Normal Pancreas .................. 263 13.7.2 FGFs and Receptors in AP................................................. 263 13.7.3 FGFs and Receptors in CP................................................. 264 13.7.4 FGFs and Receptors in PC................................................. 264
13.8 Neurotrophins in Pancreatic Diseases............................................ 266 13.8.1 NTs in AP ............................................................................ 266 13.8.2 NTs in CP ............................................................................ 267 13.8.3 NTs in PC ............................................................................ 269
13.9 Epilogue............................................................................................ 270 References .................................................................................................. 270
There are three major pathological conditions of the pancreas — acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), and pancreatic cancer (PC). AP is an acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas typically presenting with abdominal pain and increased pancreatic enzymes in blood or urine.
Clinically mild and severe forms of AP are differentiated depending on the development of pancreatic or peripancreatic necrosis. Mild AP is morphologically characterized by interstitial edema, vacuolization of acinar cells, and infiltrates of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the pancreas, with rapid recovery and an uncomplicated clinical course. In contrast, significant local and systemic complications are associated with severe AP, including extensive peripancreatic and intrapancreatic fat necrosis, parenchymal necrosis, hemorrhage, and in the later course the development of fibrosis.
