Effect of silymarin on acute lung injury and MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with acute pancreatitis / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim: To explore the protective effect of silymarin on acute lung injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis and its relationship with mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor κB (NF-kB) signaling pathway. Methods: SD rats were divided into sham operation group, model group, silymarin low, medium and high dose group (50, 100, 200 mg · kg-1), and dexamethasone group (2 mg · kg-1). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect inflammatory markers. Hematoxylin eosin staining (HE) was used to observe the histopathological changes of pancreas and lung. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of MAPK/NF-kB pathway. Results: After modeling, PaO2 and OI decreased, PaCO2, pancreas, lung histopathological score, amylase activity, TNF-α, IL-1β levels all increased in model group, compared with sham operation group, the differences were significant (P < 0. 05). After administration of silymarin, PaO2 and OI increased, PaCO2, pancreas, lung histopathological score, amylase activity, TNF-α, IL-1β levels, W/D and PMN in pancreas, lung tissues decreased, p-JNK, p-p38, p-ERK1/2, p-IκBα protein expression decreased in a dose-dependent manner, which was significantly different from those of model group (P < 0. 05). Conclusions: Silymarin may play a protective role in acute lung injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis by inhibiting MAPK/NF-kB pathway.