Abstracts
1999 Digestive Disease Week

# 2197 THE PRESENCE OF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR AND ITS RECEPTOR IS ASSOCIATED WITH PAIN IN CHRONIC PANCREATITIS
H Friess, Z Zhu, F F di Mola, C Kulli, H Graber, A Zimmerman, Univ of Bern, Inselspital, Bern Switzerland; M Korc, Univ of CA, Irvine, CA; M Reinshagen, Univ of Ulm, Ulm Germany; M W Buchler, Univ of Bern, Inselspital, Bern Switzerland

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a painful disease associated with characteristic nerve changes including increase in nerve number nerve diameter and perineural infiltration of inflammatory cells. The mechanisms which influence nerve growth are not known. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and its high affinity tyrosine kinase receptor A (TrkA) are involved in neural development, survival and growth of central and peripheral nerves. Furthermore, exogenous administered NGF causes pain. Methods: In 24 patients with CP and 20 normal pancreas, NGF and TrkA were investigated by Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining and the findings were correlated with clinical parameters. Results: NGF and TrkA mRNA expression were increased in 42% (13.1-fold) and 54% (5.5-fold) of the CP samples (p<0.01), respectively by Northern blot analysis. In situ hybridization revealed that in CP, enhanced NGF mRNA expression was present in metaplastic ductal cells, in degenerating acinar cells and in acinar cells dedifferentating into tublar structures. TrkA mRNA was intensely present in the perineurum. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the in situ hybridization findings. Analysis of the molecular findings with clinical parameters revealed a significant relationship (p<0.05) between NGF mRNA levels and pancreatic fibrosis (r=0.64) and acinar cell damage (r=0.74) and between TrkA mRNA and pain intensity (r=0.84). Conclusion: Activation of the NGF/TrkA pathway occurs in CP. It seems to influence neural morphological changes and the pain syndrome in this disorder.

Copyright 1996 - 1999, SSAT, Inc.