Protective effects of alpha-pinene in mice with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.

Abstract

AIMS:

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a complicated inflammatory disease that has an unknown underlying pathogenesis. Because alpha-pinene can modulate inflammation, we examined whether alpha-pinene plays a role in AP.

MAIN METHODS:

Alpha-pinene was administered intraperitoneally 1h prior to the first injection of cerulein. Once AP developed, cerulein, a stable cholecystokinin analog, was injected hourly over a 6-h period. Blood samples were taken 6h later to determine serum amylase and lipase levels. The pancreas and lungs were rapidly removed for morphological examination, myeloperoxidase assay, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We also isolated the pancreatic acinar cells using a collagenase solution. Cell viability, and cytokine productions were measured in pancreatic acini.

KEY FINDINGS:

Intraperitoneal administration of alpha-pinene reduced the pancreatic weight (PW) to body weight (BW) ratio and the serum levels of amylase and lipase. Alpha-pinene treatment also reduced histological damage and myeloperoxidase activity in the pancreas and lungs. Furthermore, alpha-pinene pretreatment reduced the production of pancreatic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 during cerulein-induced AP. In vitro, alpha-pinene inhibited cerulein-induced cell death and cytokine production in isolated cerulein-treated pancreatic acinar cells.

SIGNIFICANCE:

These findings suggest that alpha-pinene has an anti-inflammatory effect during cerulein-induced AP.

• Authors: Gi-Sang Bae, Kyoung-Chel Park, Sun Bok Choi, Il-Joo Jo, Mee-Ok Choi, Seung-Heon Hong, Kyung Song, Ho-Joon Song, Sung-Joo Park
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 91 Issue 17-18 Pg. 866-71 (Oct 29 2012) ISSN: 1879-0631 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22982349 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Bicyclic Monoterpenes
• Immunologic Factors
• Monoterpenes
• Ceruletide
• Peroxidase
• Lipase
• Amylases
• alpha-pinene

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Amylases (blood)
• Animals
• Bicyclic Monoterpenes
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Ceruletide
• Female
• Immunologic Factors (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Lipase (blood)
• Lung (drug effects, enzymology, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Monoterpenes (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Pancreas (drug effects, enzymology, pathology)
• Pancreatitis (chemically induced, enzymology, pathology, prevention & control)
• Peroxidase (immunology)