Influence of the caspase-1 expression in lung of severe acute pancreatitis and the influence of rhubarb on it

Objective To investigate the significance of the caspase1 expression in lung of severe acute pancreatitis and the influence of rhubarb on it.Methods 54 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(SO group,n=6),saline theraping group(ST group,n=24) and rhubarb theraping group(RT,n=24),the rats in ST group and RT group were induced into the models of severe acute pancreatitis,and 2 mL saline and 2 mL rhubarb suspl.were infused in to stomachs by gastric tubes respectively.Every 6 rats were killed at 2 h,4 h,8 h and 12 h after the models were made,the samples of pancreas and lung were cut,the change of histopathology and the expression of caspase-1 in lung were observed,and the levels of IL-1β(interleukin-1β)and IL-18(interleukin-18) in serum were determined.Results The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum increased significantly after the models were made.In ST group,the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum increased gradually with the time prolonging;while in RT group,the level began to decreased at 12 h after the models were made than that in 10 h(P0.01),and the numerus at every time was lower than that in ST group significantly(P0.01).Observed from the slices,the pathological appearance of pancreas and lung was more severe and the expression of caspase-1 was more significant with the the time prolonging in the ST group,and the manifestations above were more superior than those in RT group.Conclusion The enhancement of the caspase-1 expression in lung could increase the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum and aggravate the injury of lung of severe acute pancreatitis;and the rhubarb could inhibit the expression of caspase-1 in lung.