Effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway inhibition on the development of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) influences a number of pathways in all cells. The ERK cascade has long been known to be central to the activation of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and oncogenic transformation. The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) serine/threonine family of protein kinases, of which ERK is a member, is evolutionarily conserved and is activated by a mechanism that includes protein kinase cascades. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PD98059 [2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one], a highly selective inhibitor of MAP/ERK kinase 1 (MEK1) activation, on the development of acute pancreatitis.

METHODS:

Pancreatitis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein (hourly × 5, 50 μg/kg) and PD98059 (10 mg/kg, 10% dimethylsulfoxide, intraperitoneally) was administrated 1 and 3 hours after cerulein administration.

RESULTS:

Cerulein injection resulted in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. On the contrary, pancreatitis histological features, amylase, lipase, pancreas edema, and immunohistochemical staining for leukocyte adhesion molecules, transforming growth factor β, and apoptosis-related proteins were found reduced in PD98059-treated mice.

CONCLUSIONS:

We propose that this study could help to clarify the role of MAPK in the regulation of the inflammatory process as acute pancreatitis.

• Authors: Emanuela Mazzon, Daniela Impellizzeri, Rosanna Di Paola, Irene Paterniti, Emanuela Esposito, Alessandro Cappellani, Placido Bramanti, Salvatore Cuzzocrea
• Journal: Pancreas (Pancreas) Vol. 41 Issue 4 Pg. 560-70 (May 2012) ISSN: 1536-4828 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22228051 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Flavonoids
• Ceruletide
• MAP Kinase Kinase 1
• 2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one

Topics

• Animals
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Ceruletide (administration & dosage)
• Flavonoids (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• MAP Kinase Kinase 1 (antagonists & inhibitors)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (drug effects, physiology)
• Male
• Mice
• Pancreas (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology)
• Random Allocation
• Treatment Outcome