Effect of Ghrelin on the Pathogenesis of Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis Associated Lung Injury

Objective To investigate the effect of ghrelin on the acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP)-associated lung injury in rats.Methods Fifty-four SD rats were randomly divided into three groups;the sham operation(SO) group,ANP group and ghrelin intervention group.The ANP model in rats was induced by retrograde injection of 5%sodium taurocholate into the bili-pancreatic duct.In the ghrelin group animals were given ghrelin 30 min before ANP and 3 hs after ANP,respectively.The his-topathological changes of pancreatic and lung tissues were observed.The levels of amylase,TNF-αin serum, and myeloperoxidase(MPO) in the lung tissues were measured.The protein expression of NF-κB was detected by Western blot.Results Pancreatic and lung pathological changes,serum amylase and TNF-α, and expression of MPO,NF-kB protein in the lung tissue were significantly higher in the tests all the time in the ANP group,compared with those in the SO group(all P0.05).However,the above-mentioned parameters were decreased in the ghrelin intervention group,compared with those in the ANP group(all P0.05).Conclusion Ghrelin can alleviate the ANP-associated lung injury in rats,inhibit the level of TNF-a and MPO.The potential mechanism may be associated with the expression of NF-kB, which involved in the signaling transduction pathways of inflammatory expression.