Role of Caspase-1 activated cytokines in the course of liver injury during the experimental severe acute pancreatitis

Objective:To study the role of Caspase-1 activated cytokines in the course of liver injury during the experimental severe acute pancreatitis(SAP). Methods:Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: healthy controls(HC),SAP 6 h,SAP 12 h and SAP 18 h.SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bili-pancreatic duct in SD rats.HC rats underwent identical surgical procedures and duct cannulation without sodium taurocholate.Serum ALT and AST was measured by an automated HITACHI-7150 analyzer.Serum IL-1β levels were measured by ELISA.Myeloperoxidase(MPO) in liver was measured by enzyme chemistry assay.Intrahepatic expressions of Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results: The serum ALT and AST levels were increased significantly(P0.01 vs HC),and the serum IL-1β levels were significantly higher(P0.01 vs HC) with the increase of intrahepatic MPO after induction of pancreatitis.Intrahepatic expressions of Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA could be observed in HC,which were increased significantly in SAP groups(P0.01 vs HC),and were parallel to the severity of liver injury.Conclusion:The overexpressions of Caspase-1 activated cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of SAP complicated with liver injury.