Disease associated fibroblasts from various pancreatic disorders exhibit subtype specific genetic profile [miRNA]

Currently it is unknown whether activation of recruited or resident pancreatic fibroblasts, including pancreatic stellate cells activation, create a common “fibroblast-activated phenotype” indistinguishable from their associated-diseased microenvironment . Using a combination of microRNA and mRNA profiling of fibroblasts isolated from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), chronic pancreatitis (CP), periampullary cancer (PAT) and areas of histologically normal pancreas, followed by comprehensive validation, we show that activated fibroblasts derived from different pancreatic disease types are considerably distinct. Total RNA from primary cultures of activated fibroblasts isolated from human PDAC (n=6), CP (n=5), PAT (n=5) and adjacent normal tissue (n=5) was hybridized onto Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 4.0 arrays.