Abstract
Acute pancreatitis is a severe inflammatory condition of the pancreas. The development of acute pancreatitis involves increased oxidative stress. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induces expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 in cerulein-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key regulator for expression of antioxidant enzymes such as NAD(P) H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid, shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. DHA may inhibit oxidative stress in experimental acute pancreatitis using cerulean which is a cholecystokinin analog. The aim of this study was to investigate whether DHA inhibits cerulein-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukine-6 (IL-6) via Nrf2 signaling pathway in pancreatic acinar cells. As a result, DHA suppressed ROS levels and IL-6 expression in cerulein-stimulated AR42J cells. In addition, DHA increased phosphorylation of Nrf2, and expression of NQO1 and HO-1. These results suggest that DHA decreases ROS levels and IL-6 expression by upregulation of Nrf2-mediated NQO1 and HO-1 expression in cerulein-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells.
Published Version
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