CCN3 and autoimmune pancreatitis: Since we found significant differences in the cell cycle regulator genes (cleaved Notch-1, p21, p16, p53, Cyclin D1) only in early PE and late AIP placentas, we focused on these placentas for further analyses of pRb, Cyclin E1, and the signaling kinases FAK, Akt and mTOR which are known to be involved in the CCN3 signaling pathways in the trophoblast (31, 33).