ROLE OF CASPASE-1 ACTIVATED CYTOKINES IN ACUTE LUNG INJURY IN EXPERIMENTAL SEVERE ACUTE PANCREATITIS

Objective To study the role of Caspase-1 activated cytokines in acute lung injury (ALI) in experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods A rat model of SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliary pancreatic duct. Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: healthy control (HC), SAP 6h, SAP 12h and SAP 18h groups. Serum IL-1β level was measured by ELISA. Intrapulmonary expressions of Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results The serum IL-1β levels were significantly increased after the induction of pancreatitis (P0.01, vs HC). Although RT-PCR showed intrapulmonary expressions of Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA in HC, they were increased significantly in taurocholate-induced SAP (P0.01, vs HC), in proportion with the severity of acute lung injury (ALI). Conclusion Caspase-1 activation, and the overproduction of IL-1β and IL-18 in the lungs play an important role in the course of ALI and ARDS during experimental SAP.