Pancreatic
caerulein-induced activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal
kinase (JNK) has been reported, and JNK has been proposed as a mediator during induction of hyperstimulated
pancreatitis.
CEP-1347 has recently been described as a specific JNK inhibitor. We tested whether
CEP-1347 inhibits
caerulein-induced pancreatic JNK activation in isolated acini and in vivo.
CEP-1347 dose dependently inhibited acinar
caerulein-induced JNK activation with nearly complete inhibition at 2 microM but had no effect on digestive
enzyme release. For in vivo studies, rats were pretreated with
CEP-1347 before
caerulein hyperstimulation. For assessment of JNK activation and histological alterations, animals were killed 30 min or 2 and 4 h after
caerulein hyperstimulation, respectively. Pancreatic wet weight, serum
enzyme levels, and pancreatic activity of p38 and
extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were also determined.
Caerulein hyperstimulation strongly activated JNK, p38, and ERK.
CEP-1347 pretreatment dose dependently reduced
caerulein-induced pancreatic JNK activation without p38 or ERK inhibition. JNK inhibition also reduced pancreatic
edema formation and reduced histological severity of
pancreatitis. Thus we show that
CEP-1347 inhibits JNK activation in vivo and ameliorates
caerulein-induced
pancreatitis.