These markers, originally identified as PaSC specific, are used to distinguish PaSC's from normal fibroblasts due to the co-expression of the intermediate filament proteins desmin and GFAP [33], [34], while expression of αSMA in PaSC's was originally described as a source of fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, designating activated PaSC's [3], [36]. The gene discussed is DES; the disease is chronic pancreatitis.