Comparison of reg I and reg III levels during acute pancreatitis in the rat.
OBJECTIVE
To study alterations of serum levels of the pancreatic reg family of proteins in two models of acute pancreatitis.


BACKGROUND
The pancreatic reg family of proteins is expressed in the acinar pancreas. Reg I (pancreatic stone protein, PSP) and reg III (pancreatitis-associated protein, PAP) are induced after the onset of acute pancreatitis, and both have been proposed as potential markers of pancreatitis.


METHODS
Pancreatitis was induced in rats by either retrograde infusion of sodium taurocholate or by direct trauma. Serum samples were obtained daily for 4 days after the procedure, and the animals were then killed. Twelve animals underwent sham procedure and six underwent daily analysis without surgery. Levels of reg I/PSP and reg III/PAP were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Reg III/PAP levels increased significantly the first day after induction of both types of pancreatitis and rapidly returned to baseline in all survivors. Even animals who received retrograde infusion of saline showed a mild increase in reg III/PAP on the first day, whereas control animals that did not undergo surgery showed no variations. Reg I/PSP serum levels remained unchanged throughout all experimental periods. Postinjury reg III/PAP levels significantly correlated with severity of the pancreatic injury and animal survival; reg I/PSP levels did not.


CONCLUSIONS
After induction of pancreatitis, serum levels of reg I and III protein differ significantly. Reg III/PAP levels are a sensitive marker of pancreatic injury and early in the disease may be a useful prognostic indicator for disease severity.
Zenilman
M E
ME
Department of Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. mzenilma@montefiore.org
Tuchman
D
D
Zheng
Q
Q
Levine
J
J
Delany
H
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051847:Lithostathine; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood*; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D051381:Rats
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051847:Lithostathine; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; C000612141:REG3A protein, human; C497616:Reg1a protein, rat; C000612144:Reg3b protein, rat