Pancreatic stellate cell: Pandora's box for pancreatic disease biology

Table 1 Function of pancreatic stellate cells in the quiescent state and after activation

Physiological functions

Store fat and retinoids in their perinuclear droplets, expressing GFAP, desmin and vimentin

Secrete MMPs and TIMPs

Maintains ECM turnover

Involved in maintenance of pancreatic tissue architecture

No or limited secretion of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors

Function as an immune, progenitor and intermediary cell

Possible role in exocrine and endocrine secretions

Pathological functions

Exhibit cell proliferation and migration

Deranged ECM turnover due to loss of balance between MMPs and TIMPs

Secrete various cytokines, chemokines and growth factors and thereby contribute to inflammatory milieu

Stimulate cancer cell proliferation and migration and inhibit their apoptosis

Mediate invasion and metastasis of carcinoma cells

Mediate chemoresistance and radioresistance thereby promoting cancer cell survival

Contribute to the hypovascular and hypoxic tumour microenvironment

Promote angiogenesis, neural invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition

GFAP: Glial fibrillary acidic protein; MMPs: Matrix metalloproteinases; TIMPs: Tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases; NGF: Nerve growth factor.