Application of anti-ICAM-1 and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI)-scavenger modulate endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) during the early phase of acute pancreatitis

Background: Treatment of acute pancreatitis is a daily challenge in clinica l work, as every fifth patient develops systemic complications. The presenc e of either nitrogen (NO) or reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) has been r eported in the early phase of pancreatic inflammation, but their interactio n in the inital phase of inflammation is far from clear. Methods: The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathophysiolog ic mechanisms of anti-ICAM-1- and ROI-Scavenger-application in the early ph ase of acute pancreatitis. Results: In the mo del of Na-Taurocholat-induced pancreatitis, anti-ICAM-1- treatment leads to reduction of NOx-levels and PMN-leukocyte infiltration; protective effects can be seen by GSH-stabilization and decreased levels of pancreatic enzymes in serum. Conclusion: These results indicate, that anti-ICAM-1 does not only reduce t he tissue-infiltration of leukocytes, but can also modulate the production of NO or its derivatives, and the expression of NO-synthase. On the contrar y, ROI-scavenging shows only little effect in the early phase of acute panc reatitis. Increased expression of nitrosylated proteins and NOS-2, together with elevated levels of NO-derivatives, seems to indicate that ROI-scaveng er-treatment promotes the toxic effects of NO or NO-intermediates.