Study On The Role Of NF-κB Activation In The Pathogenesis Of Acute Pancreatitis

Objective To investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-кB) activation and the effects of a potent NF-кB inhibitor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods 128 wistar rats were divided randomly into four groups: Group A (Control, n=32), Group B (AP, n=32), Group C (AP + NAC, n=32), Group D (AP + NAC, n=32). The acute pancreatitis model was established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct. For treatment studies, NAC (500mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally on the start of the sodium taurocholate injection in Group C, and 1 hour after injection in Group D. Appliation of flow cytometry to rats for detecting NF-кB activation in pancreatic acinar cells, and in situ hybridization for detecting the expression of TNF-a mRNA.Results We found that the expression of TNF- a mRNA and NF-кB activation of pancreas in Group B was significantly higher than that in Group A (P<0.0l). There are significantly positiverelationships between TNF- a mRNA and NF-кR The activation of NF- кB and TNF- a mRNA expression in pancreas reduced remarkably by the pre- and post-treatment with NAC, especially by the pre-treatment.Conclusions Flow cytometry is a specific and sensitive way for the rapid detection of NF-кB activity in acute pancreatitis. NF-кB activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. The pre- and post-treatment with NAC can effectively reduce the activation of NF-кB and TNF- a mRNA expression in pancreas, and improve the prognosis of acute pancreatitis.