The plasminogen (plg) system participates in tissue repair in several organs, but its role in pancreas repair remains poorly characterized. To understand better the role of plg in pancreas recovery following injury, we examined the course of cerulein-induced pancreatitis in plg-deficient and -sufficient mice.

Pancreatitis was induced by cerulein administration (50 μg/kg, 7 intraperitoneal injections). Mice were killed either at the acute phase (7 hours after the first cerulein injection) or during recovery (at 2, 4, and 7 days). In pancreatic sections, we examined pancreatic morphology, trypsin activation, inflammatory cell infiltration, acinar cell death, cell proliferation, extracellular matrix deposition, activation of stellate cells (PSCs), and components of the plg and metalloproteinase systems.

In plg-sufficient mice, pancreatic plg levels and plasmin activity increased during the acute phase and remained elevated during recovery. Pancreatitis resolved in plg-sufficient mice within 7 days. Pancreas recovery involved reorganization of the parenchyma structure, removal of necrotic debris, cell proliferation, transient activation of PSCs, and moderate deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Acute pancreatitis (7 hours) was indistinguishable between plg-deficient and -sufficient mice. In contrast, pancreas recovery was impaired in plg-deficient mice. Plg deficiency led to disorganized parenchyma, extensive acinar cell loss, poor removal of necrotic debris, reduced cell proliferation, and fibrosis. Fibrosis was characterized by deposition of collagens and fibronectin, persistent activation of PSCs, and up-regulation of pancreatic transforming growth factor β1.

Plg/plasmin deficiency leads to features similar to those found in chronic pancreatitis such as parenchymal atrophy and fibrosis.