Abstract:Objective To investigate the role of PI3K/PKB signal transduction pathway in the injury of pancreas during severe acute pancreatitis.
Methods Thirty adult healthy SD rats were randomized into three groups: control group, SAP group（group S） and SAP+wortmannin group （group S+W）.SAP models were established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into pancreatic duct.Rats from each group were killed at 6h after SAP models had been established.Pancreas water content, MPO and pancreatic histology were measured, meanwhile, protein and mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in pancreas were examined by ELISA and RT-PCR respectively.Levels of phosphorylated PKB(p-PKB) and total PKB were examined by western blotting.
Results Pancreatitis（group S and group S+W）resulted in elevated pancreas water content, increased MPO, and worsened histologic condition（P<0.01）.Protein and mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β from SAP rats were much higher than those in shams（P<0.01）.p-PKB activity presented similar tendency（P<0.01）.In S+W group pancreas water content markedly decreased, MPO reduced, and degree of pancreatic injury reduced（P<0.01）.At the same time, wortmannin inhibited the activation of p-PKB and decreased protein and mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β（P<0.01）.
Conclusions The activation of PI3K/PKB is one important aspect of the signaling event that contributes to the injury of pancreas during severe acute pancreatitis.