Effects of moderate hypothermia on proinflammatory cytokine production in a rat model of caerulein-induced pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Proinflammatory cytokines act as mediators of the local and systemic manifestations of acute pancreatitis (AP).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether moderate hypothermia (MH) (32 degrees C) can reduce the severity of AP by inhibiting cytokine production in a rat model of caerulein-induced pancreatitis.


METHODS
Rats were divided into three groups: control rats (Group I), AP rats treated with normothermia (38 degrees C) (Group II), and AP rats treated with MH (Group III). AP was induced by intramuscular injection of caerulein and intraperitoneal infusion of lipopolysaccharide. MH was induced 4 hours after the first caerulein injection. Serum interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-6, amylase, and lipase levels were determined 8 hours after the first injection. The pancreas and lung were examined histologically.


RESULTS
MH in comparison with normothermia significantly reduced serum levels of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, amylase, and lipase. Histologically, the MH group showed less vacuolization of the acinar cells and cellular infiltration into the interacinar areas of the pancreas than were shown in the normothermia group, but these effects were not evident in the lung.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that MH may be clinically applicable for reducing the severity of AP.
Matsuoka
Koji
K
Department of Surgery II, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan.
Ueno
Tomio
T
Morita
Katsuhiko
K
Kawano
Hiroo
H
Yamaguchi
Kazuhito
K
Maekawa
Tsuyoshi
T
Tangoku
Akira
A
Oka
Masaaki
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002108:Ceruletide; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002108:Ceruletide; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases