title: Pomalidomide suppresses cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An overproduction of proinflammatory mediators in severe acute pancreatitis contributes to the systemic inflammatory response, which may lead to multiorgan damage and even death. Thus, inflammatory cytokines, e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β, may be novel targets for the treatment of acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of pomalidomide (or CC-4047), a thalidomide analog and immunomodulatory agent, in acute pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute pancreatitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal administration of cerulein (100 μg/kg/h × 8). Pomalidomide was administered (0.5 mg/kg orally) 1 h before the first or 1 h after the last cerulein administration. The severity of the acute pancreatitis was evaluated biochemically and morphologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pretreatment with pomalidomide significantly reduced the plasma levels of amylase and lipase; the histological injury; and the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Post-treatment with pomalidomide also decreased the cerulein-induced elevation of plasma amylase and lipase and decreased the pancreatic damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with pomalidomide ameliorated the severity of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice. Our data suggest that pomalidomide may become a new therapeutic agent in future clinical trials for the treatment of acute pancreatitis.
authors: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan. tshi33@gmail.com
authors: Ming Jen
authors: MJ
authors: Tsai
authors: Chinpiao
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Sung-Ho
authors: SH
authors: Chen
authors: Yen Ta
authors: YT
authors: Huang
authors: Ted H
authors: TH
authors: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D013792:Thalidomide; D002108:Ceruletide; C467566:pomalidomide; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases