Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on RhoA/ROCK signal pathway in severe acute pancreatitis

The effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on RhoA/ROCK signal pathway expression in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) was investigate in the present study. SAP model was established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into biliopancreatic duct. SD rats were then randomly divided into four groups: normal control, untreated SAP, BMSCs transplant + SAP and ROCK inhibitor + SAP groups (N = 30 each). All rats were sacrificed at 6, 12 and 24 h followed by analysis of serum amylase, TNF-α and IL-6 levels by ELISA, RhoA and ROCK I expression in pancreatic tissues by Western blot, morphological change by HE staining. CM-Dil labelled BMSC can be observed in transplant group. Compared to control group, untreated SAP group had significantly elevated serum amylase, ascites, and levels of TNF-α and IL-6 (P<0.05) in a time-dependent manner, with enhanced pancreatic RhoA and ROCK I protein expression (P<0.05). However, BMSCs transplant group showed decreased serum amylase, ascites, TNF-α and IL-6, plus lower RhoA or ROCK I protein expression (P<0.05). Meanwhile, Y-27632 intervention group also showed lower serum amylase or ascites, plus lower RhoA or ROCK I (P<0.05). HE staining showed improved pathological score in BMSCs transplant or Y-27632 intervention group (only at 6 h time point) compared to untreated SAP group (P<0.05). Pancreatic expression of RhoA and ROCK I is up-regulated in SAP, with severe pancreatic tissue damage. BMSCs can alleviate pancreatic injury possibly through decreasing serum inflammatory factor level and inhibiting RhoA/ROCK signal pathway.