Original Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2013; 19(10): 1551-1562
Published online Mar 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i10.1551
Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans protected the cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis by inhibiting high-mobility group box protein-1
Il-Joo Jo, Gi-Sang Bae, Kyoung-Chel Park, Sun Bok Choi, Won-Seok Jung, Su-Young Jung, Jung-Hee Cho, Mee-Ok Choi, Ho-Joon Song, Sung-Joo Park
Il-Joo Jo, Kyoung-Chel Park, Sun Bok Choi, Ho-Joon Song, Sung-Joo Park, Department of Herbology, School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 540-749, South Korea
Il-Joo Jo, Mee-Ok Choi, Department of Beauty Science, Kwangju women’s University, Kwangju 506-713, South Korea
Gi-Sang Bae, Sung-Joo Park, Hanbang Body-fluid Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 540-749, South Korea
Won-Seok Jung, Su-Young Jung, Jung-Hee Cho, Jeollanamdo Development Institute for Korean Traditional Medicine, Jangheung, Jeollanamdo 529-851, South Korea
Author contributions: Jo IJ and Park SJ designed the research; Jo IJ, Bae GS, Park KC, Choi SB, Jung WS, Jung SY, Cho JH, Choi MO and Song HJ performed the research; Jo IJ and Park SJ analyzed the data; Jo IJ and Park SJ wrote the paper.
Supported by National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korea government MEST, No. 2010-0029498
Correspondence to: Sung-Joo Park, MD, PhD, Department of Herbology, School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, JeonBuk 540-749, South Korea. parksj08@wku.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-63-850-6450 Fax: +82-63-856-2283
Received: July 24, 2012
Revised: October 15, 2012
Accepted: October 30, 2012
Published online: March 14, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the inhibitory effects of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans (SSM) on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in a mouse model.

METHODS: SSM water extract (0.1, 0.5, or 1 g/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally 1 h prior to the first injection of cerulein. Once AP developed, the stable cholecystokinin analogue, cerulein was injected hourly, over a 6 h period. Blood samples were taken 6 h later to determine serum amylase, lipase, and cytokine levels. The pancreas and lungs were rapidly removed for morphological examination, myeloperoxidase assay, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To specify the role of SSM in pancreatitis, the pancreatic acinar cells were isolated using collagenase method. Then the cells were pre-treated with SSM, then stimulated with cerulein. The cell viability, cytokine productions and high-mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB-1) were measured. Furthermore, the regulating mechanisms of SSM action were evaluated.

RESULTS: The administration of SSM significantly attenuated the severity of pancreatitis and pancreatitis associated lung injury, as was shown by the reduction in pancreatic edema, neutrophil infiltration, vacuolization and necrosis. SSM treatment also reduced pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, serum amylase, lipase and cytokine levels, and mRNA expression of multiple inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. In addition, treatment with SSM inhibited HMGB-1 expression in the pancreas during AP. In accordance with in vivo data, SSM inhibited the cerulein-induced acinar cell death, cytokine, and HMGB-1 release. SSM also inhibited the activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, p38 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SSM plays a protective role during the development of AP and pancreatitis associated lung injury via deactivating c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, p38 and NF-κB.

Keywords: Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, Cytokines, Acute pancreatitis, High-mobility group box protein-1