Persistence of memory type lymphocytes in an experimental model of chronic pancreatitis in rats.

There is growing evidence that immunocompetent cells are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis. Using a model of chronic pancreatitis induced by dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) in rats, we have immunohistochemically phenotyped the infiltrating T lymphocytes, CD45RC+ cells, macrophages, as well as the IL-2 receptor as an activation marker during a time course of two months. In addition, the expression of CD44, of the integrin component CD18, and of MHC class II was determined. Furthermore, the isoforms of CD45 which are generated by alternative mRNA splicing were analysed using reverse transcription followed by the polymerase chain reaction-technique (RT-PCR). The pattern of the local leukocytes in the DBTC pancreatitis suggests that the acute unspecific inflammation is followed by an activation of T lymphocytes resulting in the chronic course of the disease.