E-cadherin expression in a rat model of acute pancreatitis

[Inflammatory diseases of the pancreas: what new do we know about the mechanisms of their development in the 21st century?]

Inflammatory diseases of the pancreas can range from acute to acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis. With the improvement of laboratory diagnostics in the 21st century, the mechanisms of the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory role of tight junctions, in particular the transmembrane proteins occludin, claudine and JAMs, cytoplasmic Zo-proteins, and adherens junctions, in particular -catenin, -catenin, E-cadherin, selectins and ICAMs in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic pancreatitis have become more clear. The study of genetic factors in the development of acute and chronic pancreatitis showed the role of mutations in the genes SPINK1 N34S, PRSS1, CEL-HYB in the progression of the disease.

Puerarin prevents cataract development and progression in diabetic rats through Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling

Puerarin is the major bioactive ingredient isolated from the dry root of Pueraria lobata, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Puerarin has been used to treat diabetes and cataracts in China; however, its underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness and mechanism of puerarin in preventing cataracts in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozocin (STZ) administration and rats were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). Blood glucose levels and cataract development were examined in the different experimental groups. In addition, the expression levels of markers associated with oxidative stress, including nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1), were analyzed. The present results suggested that treatment with puerarin at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced blood glucose levels and the incidence of cataract in STZ‑induced diabetic rats. Additionally, puerarin treatment reduced oxidative stress, restoring the levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione, and the activity of glutathione peroxidase. Furthermore, puerarin administration decreased the expression levels of retinal vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin‑1β and increased the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2 and HO‑1, thus inhibiting oxidative stress. The present findings suggested that puerarin had hypoglycemic effects and that it prevented cataract development and progression in diabetic rats by reducing oxidative stress through the Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling pathway.

Adhesion molecules and pancreatitis

Acute and chronic pancreatitises are gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, the incidence of which is increasing worldwide. Most (~ 80%) acute pancreatitis (AP) patients have mild disease, and about 20% have severe disease, which causes multiple organ failure and has a high mortality rate. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by chronic inflammation and destruction of normal pancreatic parenchyma, which leads to loss of exocrine and endocrine tissues. Patients with CP also have a higher incidence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Although a number of factors are associated with the development and progression of AP and CP, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Adhesion molecules play important roles in cell migration, proliferation, and signal transduction, as well as in development and tissue repair. Loosening of cell-cell adhesion between pancreatic acinar cells and/or endothelial cells increases solute permeability, resulting in interstitial edema, which promotes inflammatory cell migration and disrupts tissue structure. Oxidative stress, which is one of the important pathogenesis of pancreatitis, leads to upregulation of adhesion molecules. Soluble adhesion molecules are reportedly involved in AP. In this review, we focus on the roles of tight junctions (occludin, tricellulin, claudin, junctional adhesion molecule, and zonula occludin), adherens junctions (E-cadherin and p120-, α-, and β-catenin), and other adhesion molecules (selectin and intercellular adhesion molecules) in the progression of AP and CP. Maintaining the normal function of adhesion molecules and preventing their abnormal activation maintain the structure of the pancreas and prevent the development of pancreatitis.

Spautin-1 Ameliorates Acute Pancreatitis via Inhibiting Impaired Autophagy and Alleviating Calcium Overload

Acute pancreatitis is characterized by zymogen pre-activation. Severe inflammation caused by zymogen activation can eventually lead to multiple organ dysfunctions, which contributes to the high mortality rate of severe acute pancreatitis. However, there is no specific treatment available for acute pancreatitis therapy. Here, we show that spautin-1, which effectively inhibits autophagy flux, ameliorated the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein or L-Arginine. CaMKII phosphorylation due to cytosolic calcium oeverload was revealed in this paper. It was also demonstrated that autophagic protein aggregates degradation blockade accompanying with impaired autophagy correlated positively to intra acinar cells digestive aymogen activation sitimulated by cerulein or L-Arginine. The role of spautin-1 in ameliorating acute pancreatitis was shown here to be associated with impaired autophagy inhibition and Ca²⁺ overload alleviation. We provided a promising therapy for acute pancreatitis here through targeting both impaired autophagy and increased cytosolic calcium.