Abstract: | Objective To explore the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) in the inflammatory response and immunosuppression of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Seventy-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, SAP group, PD group receiving ERK suppression, SB group receiving p38MAPK suppression, and PD+SB group receiving ERK and p38MAPK joint suppression, with 15 rats in each group. Control group received only open sutures, and the other 4 groups were established SAP rat models. In 30 minutes before surgery, PD group was injected PD98059, SB group was injected SB203580, and PD+SB group was injected PD98059 and 8B203580 via the tail vein. The peritoneal fluid changes were determined in 6 and 12 hours after surgery. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected in 5 groups and the wet/dry ratio in lung tissue was calculated. Results The peritoneal fluid volume, wet/dry ratio and serum levels of TNF-α were significantly lower in control group than those in SAP group, PD group, SB group and PD--SB group (P〈0.05), in PD+SB group than those in SAP group, PD group and SB group(P(0.05), and in PD group and SB group than those in SAP group (P 〈 0.05). Conclusions ERK and p38MAPK play important roles in the inflammatory response and immunosuppression of SAP, and inhibit SAP overactive inflammatory response by inhibiting the activity so as to improve the state of cellular immune dysfunction. |