The potential damaging role of SSAT expression by the parenchymal cells has been demonstrated in transgenic rats, where induction of SSAT in the pancreas leads to the onset of severe pancreatitis [11]; and in hepatocyte specific SSAT-ko mice, where deactivation of SSAT gene in hepatocytes reduces the severity of CCl4-induced liver injury [8]. This evidence concerns the gene KRT8 and pancreatitis.