Dynamic changes of mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction in rats with severe acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the dynamic changes of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

METHODS

The SAP model was induced by infusing the bilio-pancreatic duct of 56 Sprague-Dawley rats with 5% sterile sodium taurocholate solution. The rats were randomly divided into seven groups: control group, 0.5 h postoperative group, 1 h group, 3 h group, 6 h group, 12 h group and 24 h group. Western blot analysis was used to determine the activities of p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the pancreas and lungs.

RESULTS

In the rats of the control group, basal p38MAPK activity could be detected but not that of JNK. After SAP was induced, the p38MAPK activity in the pancreas increased markedly and peaked at 3 h, but in the lung it peaked at 6 h. The p38MAPK activity in the pancreas and lungs was significantly higher than the basal activity at the 24 h time point. The activity of INK was only increased at the 12 h point and was not detectable at 24 h.

CONCLUSION

The MAPK signal transduction pathway, in particular p38MAPK, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SAP.