P-selectin expression and Kupffer cell activation in rat acute pancreatitis

This work studied the activation of hepatic macrophages during acute pancreatitis and the involvement of these cells in the lung inflammatory response. Pancreatitis was induced in Wistar rats by intraductal administration of 5% sodium taurocholate. Three hours after pancreatitis induction, the degree of pulmonary inflammation, TNF-alpha levels, and P-selectin expression were evaluated. The generation of TNF-alpha by Kupffer cells was also measured. Pancreatitis increases the serum concentration of TNF-alpha, neutrophil infiltration, and P-selectin expression in pancreas and lung. In addition, Kupffer cells generate increased levels of TNF-alpha. When Kupffer cells were inhibited, the increase in serum TNF-alpha levels and the infiltration of neutrophils in the lung were prevented, but P-selectin expression remained unmodified. We conclude that pulmonary inflammation induced by acute pancreatitis is mediated by Kupffer cell activation and that pancreatitis induces the expression of P-selectin on pulmonary endothelial cells but this effect is not mediated by Kupffer cells.