Changes in cytokines and chemokines in an acute pancreatitis model.

BACKGROUND: The immune response secondary to inflammation that develops in acute pancreatitis plays an important role in the clinical course of the disease. This study aims to evaluate the changes in various cytokines and chemokines according to the severity of pancreatitis. METHODS: Twenty-one female Wistar albino rats were divided into three equal groups. The control group received no intervention. Intraperitoneal cerulein was administered to the other groups once per hour for five hours at doses of 50 µg/kg and 80 µg/kg for the mild and severe pancreatitis groups, respectively. The development of pancreatitis and its severity level were confirmed by histological evaluation after euthanization. Blood samples were taken from all rats to measure levels of Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 1 (CXCL-1), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), IL-18, IL-12p70, IL-1ß, IL-17A, IL-33, IL-1α, and IL-6. Additionally, the Schoenberg inflammation scores of pancreatic tissues were evaluated. RESULTS: The acute pancreatitis model was successfully induced in all cases within the study groups, according to histopathological examination. It was found that the levels of CXCL-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 were statistically significantly higher in rats with pancreatitis, with these parameters being elevated in the group with severe pancreatitis. In correlation analyses, MCP-1 and IL-6 showed a moderate correlation with the severity of pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: CXCL-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 exhibit predictive characteristics for the occurrence and clinical course of pancreatitis. Our results highlight the production and working pathways of these cytokines as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

The role of serum nesfatin-1 in a rat model of acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease that can still be fatal despite rapid advances in medicine. The relationship between serum nesfatin-1 levels and AP is still to be fully resolved. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the utility of serum nesfatin-1 levels in the diagnosis of AP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control, mild pancreatitis and severe pancreatitis groups (n = 8/group). Acute pancreatitis was induced by cerulein injection and the control group received saline injections. Then, the serum nesfatin-1, amylase, lipase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined. A pathologist blinded to the study scored the severity of pancreatitis. RESULTS: There was a considerable decrease in serum nesfatin-1 levels in parallel to the severity of pancreatitis, though there was no statistically significant relationship observed between pancreatitis and nesfatin-1. In addition, there was no significant difference in AST or ALT levels among the groups. However, a strong positive correlation between amylase and lipase levels was observed (p < 0.05). The severe pancreatitis group (group 3) had a higher lipase level and pathology score than mild pancreatitis group (group 2), and this difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Serum nesfatin-1 may be used as a diagnostic and severity marker in pancreatitis in the future.

May Nesfatin-1 be a Biomarker in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of nesfatin-1 in cases of intestinal ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion. STUDY DESIGN: An experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Experimental Animals Laboratory of Bezmialem University, in June 2018. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of 7 rats each. In group 1: 1-hour intestinal ischemia followed by 5-hour reperfusion was performed. In group 2: rats were subjected to 6-hour intestinal ischemia. In group 3: rats underwent laparotomy and closure without performing any further procedure. Changes in leukocyte count, amylase, blood sugar, LDH, SGOT, CRP, and nesfatin-1 levels were determined. For histopathological examination, a small intestinal sample was taken and preserved in 10% formaldehyde. RESULTS: Nesfatin-1 value in group 2 was significantly higher than that in group 1 and group 3 (p=0.005, and p <0.001 respectively). Nesfatin-1 value in group 1 was significantly higher than that in group 3. A significant (r = 0.864/p <0.001) positive correlation was observed between nesfatin-1 value and pathology score. The pathology score of group 2 was significantly higher than that of group 1 and group 3 (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum nesfatin-1 can be a biomarker in acute mesenteric ischemia.