The significance of changing of serum IL-33 in acute pancreatitis in rats

Objective To study the function of IL-33 in rats with acute pancreatitis(AP).Methods Sixty-four SD rats were randomly divided into AP group and sham operation(SO) group.AP was induced in rats with retrograde infusion of 4% sodium taurocholate into the the pancreastobiliary duct(1ml/kg).The rats were sacrificed at 3,6,12 and 24 h after operation.The samples of blood serum and pancreas tissue were collected at each time point for detecting AMY,TNF-α and IL-33 levels and distinguishing AP pathological score.Results The levels of AMY,TNF-α and pathological score at all time points in AP group were significantly higher than those in SO group(P0.05),and the elevated levels were increased with time during the first 6 hour.The level of IL-33 in AP group was significantly higher than that in SO group at 3,6,12h time points(P0.01) although the level of IL-33 in AP group was dramatic increased during first 6h and then droped rapidly afterward.More interestingly,the level of IL-33 was significantly positively correlated with TNF-α level and AP pathological score at the first 6h time point(r=0.82,P0.01 with TNF-α)、(r=0.75,P0.05 with pathological score).However the level of IL-33 in AP group had no significant difference as compared with that in SO group at 24h time point.Conclusion Elevated IL-33 is significantly positively correlated with TNF-α level and AP pathological score in the early stage of AP indicating IL-33 may play an important role as a pro-inflammatory factor during the early AP development.