Evidence for cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress in the rat pancreas.
OBJECTIVE
Recent findings with a rodent model of cigarette smoke inhalation revealed a causal relationship between chronic exposure to cigarette smoke and the development of pancreatitis. The present study was conducted to ascertain whether cigarette smoke induces oxidative stress in the rat pancreas concurrently with inflammation.


METHODS
Rats (six per treatment group) were treated for 0, 3, 6, 9, or 12 weeks with cigarette smoke (0.7 mg/L). Pancreatic tissues were examined for histological and pathological alterations and serum for changes in interleukin-6 concentration. Pancreatic expression and localization of alpha-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-beta1, and collagen-1 were determined as measures of progressive inflammation/fibrosis. Pancreatic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and malondialdehyde content were measured as indices of oxidative stress.


RESULTS
Inflammatory cell infiltration and ductal hyperplasia were detected in pancreata after 12 weeks of treatment with cigarette smoke. The serum interleukin-6 concentration increased significantly and pancreatic glutathione peroxidase activity declined significantly after 12 weeks of treatment. No other significant changes were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreata of rats exposed chronically to cigarette smoke exhibit inflammation concurrently with suppression of glutathione peroxidase activity. These observations favor a role for oxidative stress in the induction of pancreatitis associated with chronic cigarette smoke inhalation.
Jianyu-Hao
Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Captial Medical University, Beijing, PR China. haojianyu@medmail.com.cn
Guang-Li
Baosen-pang
D000818:Animals; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D015415:Biomarkers; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase