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

This work studied the activation of hepatic macrophages during acute pancre atitis 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 degre e of pulmonary inflammation, TNF-alpha levels, and P-selectin expression we re evaluated. The generation of TNF-alpha by Kupffer cells was also measure d. 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 we re inhibited, the increase in serum TNF-alpha levels and the infiltration o f neutrophils in the lung were prevented, but P-selectin expression remaine d unmodified. We conclude that pulmonary inflammation induced by acute panc reatitis is mediated by Kupffer cell activation and that pancreatitis induc es the expression of P-selectin on pulmonary endothelial cells but this eff ect is not mediated by Kupffer cells.