Enteral Exclusion Increases Map Kinase Activation and Cytokine Production in a Model of Gallstone Pancreatitis

Background: We have previously demonstrated that enteral exclusion augments pancreatic p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production after bile-pancreatic duct ligation in rats. Methods: In the present study, we evaluated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, and cytokine production, in pancreata of duct-ligated rats with and without duodenal bile-pancreatic juice replacement from a donor rat. We hypothesized that enteral exclusion of bile-pancreatic juice activates stress kinases and induces cytokine production in ligation-induced acute pancreatitis. Results: Increased JNKand ERKactivation after ligation are inhibited by bile-pancreatic juice replacement. Increases in pancreatic production of IL-1β and IL-12 after ligation are significantly subdued by replacement. In additional in vitro studies, we show that cholecystokinin- or TNF-α-stimulated nuclear transcription factor kappa-B activation in AR42J cells is inhibited by dominant negative ERK2.