Question

Describe why inappropriate activation of trypsinogen in the acinar ducts could lead to diabetes mellitus I

Answer 1

Trypsin is produced, stored and released as the inactive trypsinogen to ensure that the protein is only activated in the appropriate location. In normal conditions there are defense mechanism in place to prevent inappropriate activation of trypsinogen. When there is improper activation of trypsogen to trypsin in the acinar ducts it will result in a condition known as pancreatitis, which overtime leads to chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis is an inflamatory disease that leads to morphologic changes characterized by irreversible destruction and fibrosis of the exocrine parenchyma, leading to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and progressive endocrine failure, acinar cell loss, all leading to diabetes mellitus.