title: E-cadherin expression in a rat model of acute pancreatitis.
abstract: A clinical requirement exists for early biomarkers that can predict the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). In order to determine whether E-cadherin is associated with the severity of AP, a pancreatitic rat model was established and the expression levels of E-cadherin were detected. A study population of 24 Sprague Dawley rats was administered intraperitoneal injections of various concentrations of L-arginine in order to induce pancreatitis. Rats were assigned to the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) or mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) group based on the results of histological evaluations and the serum levels of amylase. An additional 8 rats received intraperitoneal injections of NaCl solution, as a control group. For each group, the serum concentrations of soluble E-cadherin and the expression levels of E-cadherin protein in the pancreatic tissue were detected. The results indicated that the rat model of pancreatitis was successfully established. Rats in the high concentration L-arginine treatment group, which exhibited a higher pancreatitis pathology score and level of serum amylase, were assigned to the SAP group. Low concentration L-arginine group rats were assigned to the MAP group. The pathology scores and levels of serum amylase in the SAP and MAP group rats were higher compared with the control group rats. The levels of serum E-cadherin were the most elevated in the SAP group. Statistically significant differences were detected in the SAP and MAP groups compared with the control group, and in the SAP group compared with the MAP group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of E-cadherin protein in the pancreatic tissue were elevated in the SAP group compared with the MAP and control groups. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that E-cadherin was overexpressed in SAP rats, and the overexpression of E-cadherin may be associated with the severity of AP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Yixing People's Hospital, Yixing, Jiangsu 214200, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Yixing People's Hospital, Yixing, Jiangsu 214200, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Q I
authors.initials: QI
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Yixing People's Hospital, Yixing, Jiangsu 214200, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guochang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiazeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yigang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: E-cadherin; mild acute pancreatitis; pancreatitis; severe acute pancreatitis