title: Phospholipase A2 in acute pancreatitis: new biochemical and pathological aspects.
abstract: Phospholipase A2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. The initial enthusiasm concerning pancreatic group I phospholipase A2 as an enzyme responsible for pancreatic necrosis and systemic manifestations of acute pancreatitis has gradually waned, as the mechanisms of the pathogenesis and the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis have been revealed. The overactive systemic inflammatory response associated with the activation of different cascade systems and increased levels of inflammatory mediators as seen in severe acute pancreatitis, closely resembles that associated with other severe inflammatory diseases such as septic shock. The critical role of the non-pancreatic secretory group II phospholipase A2 in the chain of inflammatory mediators has been emphasized recently, as new detection methods for the enzyme have become available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hietaranta
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gronroos
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000502:physiology*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2