Altered cytokine response in rat acute pancreatitis complicated with endotoxemia

We demonstrated that the dynamic aspects of cytokine production in rat acut e pancreatitis, which was induced by cerulein and aggravated by subsequent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. A priming effect by induction of mild p ancreatitis with cerulein enhanced the subsequent cytokine production by LP S injection. Alternatively, after induction of severe pancreatitis with cer ulein and LPS, cytokine production was markedly suppressed for greater than or equal to 90 hours. Production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by splenocytes de creased, and mortality rate after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) increas ed significantly after induction of severe acute pancreatitis. These result s suggest that the suppression of a cytokine response in severe acute pancr eatitis may alter the defense system and, as a result, increase mortality a fter CLP.