Suppressing progress of pancreatitis through selective inhibition of NF-κB activation by using NAC

Objective: To explore the characteristics of NF-闎 activation in the progress of pancreatitis, the relationship with expression of TNF- in the inflammatory reaction, and prevent the exacerbation of pancreatitis by using NAC. Method: Forty-eight rats were divided into three groups: therapy (group C), pancreatitis (group B) and control (group A). NAC served as the inhibitor of NF-闎 activation. In the time intervals of 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0 hour, NF-闎 activation was detected with flow cytometry (FCM) and the expression of TNF- mRNA and protein with in situ hybridization (ISH) and enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Meanwhile, the level of lipase and amylase in the serum was assayed and the pathological change was evaluated. Result: NF-闎 activation in the pancreatitis group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01), peaked at 3 hours, and was depressed by the inhibitor of NF-闎, NAC. The expression of TNF- as well as the level of lipase and amylase in the serum also rose synchronously with activation of NF-闎. In contrast to group A, it was significantly different (P<0.01) in group B. After using NAC in group C, all of these values were decreased and the in-flammatory reaction in the pancreas abated evidently. The pathology changes of the pancreas were shown to be alleviated in group C. Conclusion: First, NF-闎 activity is intensively initiated in the course of pancreatitis and shown to have closely relationship with the release of cytokines. Second, use of NAC markedly depressed NF-闎 activation. TNF- expression is down regulated by cytokines. It is suggested that NAC probably acts as a useful agent for treatment of pancreatitis by indirectly inhibiting activation of NF-闎.