Does matrix metalloproteinase activity predict severity of acute pancreatitis?
BACKGROUND
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) modulate end-organ complications of acute pancreatitis, but the correlation between increased MMP production and histological severity of disease remains unclear. We examined the role of MMP and pancreas histology on experimental acute pancreatitis.


METHODS
Forty male Wistar albino rats were subjected to cerulein-induced pancreatitis (8, 16, 24 and 32 h groups) or sham treatment. The animals were killed at different time points and pancreatic tissues were harvested to assess MMP (1, 2 and 9) activity and inflammatory changes.


RESULTS
Compared with other groups, 8 h group had decreased tissue MMP-1 concentrations. MMP-9 concentrations were lower in 24-h and 32-h groups, as were histological severity scores. MMP-2 activity did not differ among groups. Pancreatitis was prominent in 8-h, 16-h and 24-h groups by means of histology.


CONCLUSIONS
Induction of pancreatitis by cerulein altered pancreatic MMP levels in the early phase of inflammation. Inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 paralleled histological scores. Therefore, MMP may have a predictive value to assess histological severity.
Aynaci
Murat
M
Department of Surgery, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
Tuncyurek
Pars
P
Nart
Deniz
D
Zeytunlu
Murat
M
Ozutemiz
Omer
O
Ersoz
Galip
G
Yilmaz
Funda
F
Mayer
Jens
J
Coker
Ahmet
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000201:enzymology*; D011379:Prognosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases