Sonic hedgehog expression in a rat model of chronic pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the activation of sonic hedgehog (SHh) signaling pathways in a rat model of chronic pancreatitis.


METHODS
Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: experimental group and control group (20 rats in each group). Dibutyltin dichloride was infused into the tail vein of the rats to induce chronic pancreatitis in the experimental group. The same volume of ethanol and glycerol mixture was infused in the control group. The expression of Ptch, Smo and Gli were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, significant histological changes in terms of the areas of abnormal architecture, glandular atrophy, fibrosis, pseudo tubular complexes, and edema were observed at week 4 in the experimental group. The expression of Ptch1, Smo and Gli1 in the pancreatic tissue increased significantly in the experimental group. Using RT-PCR, mRNA levels of Ptch, Smo and Gli in the experimental group increased significantly compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The SHh signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in rats with chronic pancreatitis. The SHh signaling pathway plays an important role in the development of chronic pancreatitis. These results may be helpful in studies focusing on the relationship between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Luo-Wei Wang, Han Lin, Wei Xia, Jun Gao, Zhao-Shen Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Luo-Wei
LW
Wang
Luo-Wei Wang, Han Lin, Wei Xia, Jun Gao, Zhao-Shen Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Han
H
Lin
Luo-Wei Wang, Han Lin, Wei Xia, Jun Gao, Zhao-Shen Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Yi
Y
Lu
Luo-Wei Wang, Han Lin, Wei Xia, Jun Gao, Zhao-Shen Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Wei
W
Xia
Luo-Wei Wang, Han Lin, Wei Xia, Jun Gao, Zhao-Shen Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Jun
J
Gao
Luo-Wei Wang, Han Lin, Wei Xia, Jun Gao, Zhao-Shen Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Zhao-Shen
ZS
Li
D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005355:Fibrosis; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; D013997:Time Factors; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
C498521:Gli1 protein, rat; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; C000606239:Ptch1 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C546888:Shh protein, rat; C498555:Smo protein, rat; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1; C056189:di-n-butyltin
Chronic pancreatitis; Gli1; Pancreatic cancer; Ptch1; Smo; Sonic hedgehog