Ethanol metabolism and transcription factor activation in pancreatic acinar cells in rats

Ethanol metabolism by pancreatic acinar cells and the role of its metabolites in ethanol toxicity to the pancreas remain largely unknown. Here, we characterize ethanol metabolism in pancreatic acinar cells and determine the effects of ethanol metabolites on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and activator protein (AP)-1, transcription factors that are activated in pancreatitis and mediate expression of inflammatory molecules critical for this disease.

We measured activities of fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) synthase and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), as well as accumulation of ethanol metabolites. We measured the effects of ethanol and its metabolites on NF-kappa B and AP-1 activation by using a gel shift assay.

Pancreas metabolizes ethanol via both oxidative and nonoxidative pathways. Acinar cells are the main source of ethanol metabolism in the pancreas. Compared with the liver, FAEE synthase activity in the pancreas is greater, whereas that of ADH is much less. FAEEs activated NF-kappa B and AP-1, whereas acetaldehyde inhibited NF-kappa B activation. Ethanol decreased NF-kappa B binding activity in acinar cells, which was potentiated by cyanamide.

Oxidative and nonoxidative ethanol metabolites regulate transcription factors differently in pancreatic acinar cells. Ethanol may regulate NF-kappa B and AP-1 positively or negatively, depending on which metabolic pathway's effect predominates. These regulatory mechanisms may play a role in ethanol toxicity to the pancreas.