Very-low-density lipoprotein receptor-enhanced lipid metabolism in pancreatic stellate cells promotes pancreatic fibrosis

Abstract

Lipoprotein disorder is a common feature of chronic pancreatitis (CP); however, the relationship between lipoprotein disorder and pancreatic fibrotic environment is unclear. Here, we investigated the occurrence and mechanism of pancreatic stellate cell (PSC) activation by lipoprotein metabolites and the subsequent regulation of type 2 immune responses, as well as the driving force of fibrotic aggressiveness in CP. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed the heterogeneity of PSCs and identified very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR)⁺ PSCs that were characterized by a higher lipid metabolism. VLDLR promoted intracellular lipid accumulation, followed by interleukin-33 (IL-33) expression and release in PSCs. PSC-derived IL-33 strongly induced pancreatic group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) to trigger a type 2 immune response accompanied by the activation of PSCs, eventually leading to fibrosis during pancreatitis. Our findings indicate that VLDLR-enhanced lipoprotein metabolism in PSCs promotes pancreatic fibrosis and highlight a dominant role of IL-33 in this pro-fibrotic cascade.

Keywords: chronic pancreatitis; group 2 innate lymphoid cell; interleukin-33; pancreatic stellate cells; very-low-density lipoprotein receptor.