Prior studies in the optic nerve injury paradigm showed conflicting data regarding production and significance of the Ca 2+ -binding protein oncomodulin (OCM). Some have shown its potent axon-regenerative or-growth attribute, where other showed little to no effect. We show here that pancreas inflammation lead to macrophages infiltration that produce OCM and inflamed tissues that express OCM receptors in vivo. In culture OCM has a cytostatic effect on embryonic pancreas explants. Secretory

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... ts of zymosanactivated macrophages are cytotoxic and factors derived from non-activated macrophages seem to promote pancreas development. It is our view that OCM is involved in protective injury response that allows through metabolism slowing sub-lethally injured cells to undergo recovery.