diethyl-maleate and Acute-Disease

Acute pancreatitis (AP) may lead to the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), especially in severe cases. Resolution of such inflammatory responses is dependent on neutrophil apoptosis. Delays in this apoptotic response are associated with persistent inflammation and subsequent tissue damage. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of AP on neutrophil apoptosis and to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. Neutrophils and serum were isolated from control (n=10) and from patients with AP (mild, n=35, and severe, n=5). Neutrophil apoptosis was assessed by propidium iodide DNA staining using flow cytometry. Caspase, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and Mcl-1 protein expression were assessed by SDS-PAGE western blotting. Serum interleukin (IL)-1beta and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) levels were measured by ELISA. Neutrophils isolated from patients with AP show a significant delay in spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis. Serum factors contributed to this delay with increases in IL-1beta and GM-CSF. Isolated neutrophils were resistant to Fas antibody-induced apoptosis. Caspases represent a central mechanism for spontaneous and Fas antibody-induced neutrophil apoptosis. Procaspase 3 expression was decreased in mild and severe cases, but this effect was independent of serum factors. Increases in GST expression may also contribute to the antiapoptotic effect. Altered caspase expression may represent an additional factor contributing to delayed neutrophil apoptosis. This may contribute to the development of AP and its related complications.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Annexin A5; Apoptosis; Caspases; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Induction; Enzyme Precursors; Female; Glutathione Transferase; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Interleukin-1; Male; Maleates; Middle Aged; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; Neoplasm Proteins; Neutrophils; Pancreatitis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Time Factors

Male New Zealand White rabbits were treated with microsomal enzyme inducers, inhibitors of hemoprotein synthesis or action, and glutathione precursor and depletor before they were orally given the median lethal dose (LD50) of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1; 0.4 mg/kg) at the start of a 7-day experimental period. The drugs administered, mean duration of illness (hours), and survival percentage were as follows: controls (saline solution)-85, 50%; phenobarbital (PB)-100, 100%; phenylbutazone-115, 67%; benzoflavone-39, 17%; stanozolol-67, 67%; cobaltous chloride (CoCl2)-46, 67%; piperonyl butoxide (PBO)-88, 100% cysteine (CYS)-68, 100%; ethyl maleate-71, 83%. Signs of toxicosis included decreased feed and water consumption, weight loss, dehydration, lethargy, and emaciation; some rabbits died or were euthanatized. Clinico-pathologic changes included increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity by 24 hours and bilirubin concentration by 48 to 72 hours after AFB1 was given. Grossly, livers were pale or tan and friable, with prominent lobular architecture. Kidneys of affected rabbits were pale to dark red. Microscopically, livers were normal or had lesions as great as extensive necrosis, hemorrhage, mineralization, and bile duct proliferation. Treatment of rabbits with PB, CoCl2, PBO, and CYS protected against AFB1 hepatic pathology, and PB, PBO, and CYS also had protective effect against lethality. Ethyl maleate provided some protection against lethality and increased serum AST activity and bilirubin concentration. Toxicosis was enhanced by benzoflavone; phenylbutazone and stanozolol had litte influence.

Topics: Acute Disease; Aflatoxin B1; Aflatoxins; Animals; Benzoflavones; Carcinogens; Chlorides; Cobalt; Cysteine; Enzyme Induction; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glutathione; Goats; Liver; Male; Maleates; Microsomes, Liver; Phenobarbital; Phenylbutazone; Piperonyl Butoxide; Rabbits; Rats; Stanozolol