title: Apigenin Attenuates Inflammation in Experimentally Induced Acute Pancreatitis-Associated Lung Injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute pancreatitis is associated with acute lung injury. The aim of the present study is to evaluate alterations of lungs in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis (AP) following both bilio-pancreatic duct obstruction close to the duodenum. Acute pancreatitis is a common disease with significant mortality. This situation makes the need of finding protective factors for the lung parenchyma, imperative. In the present study there is an effort to clarify the role of apigenin, a substance which is well known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, on lung injury, following acute pancreatitis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, 126 male Wistar-type rats 3-4 months old and 220-350 g weight were used. At time 0 we randomly assigned the following groups: Group Sham: Rats were subjected to virtual surgery. Group Control: Rats were subjected to surgery for induction of acute pancreatitis. Group Apigenin: Rats were subjected to surgery for induction of acute pancreatitis and enteral feeding with apigenin. Immunochemistry for TNF-α and IL-6 as well as MPO activity were measured at predetermined time intervals 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, in order to evaluate architectural disturbances of the lung tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the pathological reports we realized that comparing the control group with the apigenin group, there is an improvement of lung tissue damage following apigenin administration, with statistical significance. Apigenin reduces most histopathological alterations of the pulmonary tissue, reduces MPO and TNF-α activity at 48 hours and, furthermore, reduces IL-6 activity at 72 hours post-administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral Apigenin administration in rats, following experimental induced acute pancreatitis, seems to be protective on the lung tissue. Apigenin administration to humans could potentially ameliorate acute lung injuries. However, special caution is required for humans' use, as more detailed studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: a Demokritos University of Thrace, Second Department of Surgery , University Hospital of Alexandroupolis , Alexandroupolis , Greece.
authors.forename: Neofitos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basios
authors.affiliation: b Henry Dunant Hospital Center , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lampropoulos
authors.affiliation: c Experimental -Research Center, ELPEN Pharmaceuticals , Pikermi , Greece.
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papalois
authors.affiliation: d Demokritos University of Thrace, Department of Histology , University Hospital of Alexandroupolis , Alexandroupolis , Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambropoulou
authors.affiliation: a Demokritos University of Thrace, Second Department of Surgery , University Hospital of Alexandroupolis , Alexandroupolis , Greece.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pitiakoudis
authors.affiliation: e Demokritos University of Thrace, Laboratory of Medical Physics , University Hospital of Alexandroupolis , Alexandroupolis , Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kotini
authors.affiliation: a Demokritos University of Thrace, Second Department of Surgery , University Hospital of Alexandroupolis , Alexandroupolis , Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simopoulos
authors.affiliation: a Demokritos University of Thrace, Second Department of Surgery , University Hospital of Alexandroupolis , Alexandroupolis , Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tsaroucha
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047310:Apigenin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000601:surgery; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D047310:Apigenin; D009195:Peroxidase
keywords: IL-6; MPO; TNF-α; apigenin; experimentally induced acute pancreatitis; lung injury