RNA-seq of purified human pancreatic dedifferentiated acinar cells and duct cells

Pancreatic acinar cells can dedifferentiate upon tissue injury and acquire ductal characteristics. This acquisition of duct cell features is critical in tumor development. Nevertheless, duct cells themselves are less prone for development of PDAC (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma) than dedifferentiated acini. We aimed to clarify which genes are unique for dedifferentiated acini. Mixed exocrine preparations of acinar and duct cells were obtained from human pancreatic donor organs and cultured to induce dedifferentiation. We lineage-labeled and FACS-purified these human dedifferentiated acinar cells and compared them to duct cells from the same donor (n=5).