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Apamin Attenuated Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis by Inhibition of JNK Pathway in Mice

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Abstract

Background/Aim

We have previously reported that bee venom (BV) has a protective role against acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the effects of apamin, the major compound of BV, on AP have not been determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of apamin on cerulein-induced AP.

Methods

AP was induced via intraperitoneal injection of supramaximal concentrations of the stable cholecystokinin analogue cerulein (50 μg/kg) every hour for 6 times. In the apamin treatment group, apamin was administered subcutaneously (10, 50, or 100 μg/kg) at both 18 and 1 h before the first cerulein injection. The mice were sacrificed at 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Blood samples were obtained to determine serum amylase and lipase levels, as well as cytokine production. The pancreas and lung were rapidly removed for morphologic and histological examination, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, we isolated the pancreatic acinar cells to specify the role of apamin in AP.

Results

Pre-treatment with apamin inhibited histological damage, pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, serum level of amylase and lipase, MPO activity, and cytokine production. In addition, apamin treatment significantly inhibited cerulein-induced pancreatic acinar cell death. Furthermore, apamin treatment inhibited the cerulein-induced activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK).

Conclusions

These results could suggest that apamin could protect against AP by inhibition of JNK activation.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea [NRF] grant-funded by the Korean government [MEST]; Contract/Grant Number: 2010-0029498.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hanbang Body-fluid Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 540-749, South Korea

    Gi-Sang Bae, Dae-Gil Kang, Ho-Sub Lee & Sung-Joo Park

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Spine & Joint Center, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, 626-770, South Korea

    Kwang-Ho Heo & Byung-Cheul Shin

  3. Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 626-870, South Korea

    Byung-Cheul Shin

  4. Department of Herbology, College of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 570-749, South Korea

    Kyoung-Chel Park, Sun Bok Choi, Il-Joo Jo, Seung-Hee Seo, Dong-Goo Kim, Joon-Yeon Shin, Ho-Joon Song & Sung-Joo Park

  5. Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 570-749, South Korea

    Dae-Gil Kang & Ho-Sub Lee

Authors
  1. Gi-Sang Bae
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  2. Kwang-Ho Heo
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  9. Dae-Gil Kang
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  12. Byung-Cheul Shin
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  13. Sung-Joo Park
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sung-Joo Park.

Additional information

Gi-Sang Bae, Kwang-Ho Heo and Kyoung-Chel Park contributed equally to this work.

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Bae, GS., Heo, KH., Park, KC. et al. Apamin Attenuated Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis by Inhibition of JNK Pathway in Mice. Dig Dis Sci 58, 2908–2917 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2800-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2800-0

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