In different animal models, we find a central role for mitochondrial dysfunction, and for impaired autophagy as its principal downstream effector, in development of AP. In particular, the pathway involving enhanced interaction of cyclophilin D with ATP synthase mediates L-arginine-induced pancreatitis, a model of severe AP the pathogenesis of which has remained unknown. Strategies to restore mitochondrial and/or autophagic function might be developed for treatment of AP.

We have developed a simple, noninvasive model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats by intraperitoneal injection of 3 g/kg L-ornithine. Interestingly, we found that, compared with L-arginine, L-ornithine was even more effective at inducing pancreatitis. Large doses of L-arginine produce a toxic effect on the pancreas, at least in part, through L-ornithine.

Taken together, early mitochondrial injury caused by large doses of L-lysine may lead to the development of acute pancreatitis independently of pancreatic trypsinogen and NF-κB activation.

Myofibroblasts play central roles in wound healing, deposition of the extracellular matrix and epithelial function. Their functions depend on migration and proliferation within the subepithelial matrix, which results in accelerated cellular metabolism. Upregulated metabolic pathways generate protons which need to be excreted to maintain intracellular pH (pH(i)). We isolated human gastric myofibroblasts (HGMs) from surgical specimens of five patients. Then we characterized, for the first time, the expression and functional activities of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE) isoforms 1, 2 and 3, and the functional activities of the Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter (NBC) and the anion exchanger (AE) in cultured HGMs using microfluorimetry, immunocytochemistry, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot analysis. We showed that NHE1-3, NBC and AE activities are present in HGMs and that NHE1 is the most active of the NHEs. In scratch wound assays we also demonstrated (using the selective NHE inhibitor HOE-642) that carbachol and insulin like growth factor II (IGF-II) partly stimulate migration of HGMs in a NHE1-dependent manner. EdU incorporation assays revealed that IGF-II induces proliferation of HGMs which is inhibited by HOE-642. The results indicate that NHE1 is necessary for IGF-II-induced proliferation response of HGMs. Overall, we have characterized the pH(i) regulatory mechanisms of HGMs. In addition, we demonstrated that NHE1 activity contributes to both IGF-II- and carbachol-stimulated migration and that it is obligatory for IGF-II-induced proliferation of HGMs.

Objectives: Intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 3.5 g/kg L-arginine (known to induce acute pancreatitis) in rats will result in much greater increases in serum ornithine versus citrulline concentration (Crit Care Med. 2008; 36:2117Y2127). These data indicate a major role of arginase in the catabolism of L-arginine. Therefore, we tested the effects of the irreversible arginase inhibitor (+)-S-2-amino-6-iodoacetamidohexanoic acid (AIHA) on L-arginineYinduced acute pancreatitis. Methods:The inhibitory effect of AIHA on arginase activity was tested on rat liver homogenate and purified bovine arginase. Male Wistar rats were administered 15 mg/kg AIHA or its vehicle IP 1 hour before the injection of physiological saline or 3.5 g/kg L-arginine IP. Laboratory and histological parameters of pancreatitis were determined 24 hours after the last injection.Results: Sixty micromolars of AIHA (equimolar to an in vivo dose of 15 mg/kg) significantly inhibited arginase activity by about 25%. Pretreatment with AIHA significantly ameliorated pancreatic damage caused by L-arginine administration. It decreased pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, pancreatic glutathione peroxidase and myeloperoxidase activities, and histological damage. Administration of AIHA in itself significantly increased levels of pancreatic heat shock proteins.Conclusions: Pretreatment with AIHA reduces the severity of LarginineYinduced pancreatitis most likely by inhibiting arginase activity.Key Words: arginase, L-arginine, (+)-S-2-amino-6-iodoacetamidohexanoic acid, acute pancreatitis (Pancreas 2010;00: 00Y00) L arge doses (2.5Y5 g/kg) of intraperitoneally (IP) injected L-arginine are known to induce acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats and mice. 1Y4 The pathomechanism of L-arginine pancreatitis is unknown, especially concerning the early events leading to the disease.Two key enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of L-arginine are nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and arginase ( F1 Fig. 1).5 Nitric oxide synthase has 3 isoforms: the constitutive endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal (nNOS) and an inducible form (iNOS). They catalyze the conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide and L-citrulline. Arginase, which has 2 isoforms (types I and II), hydrolyzes L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea. These 2 arginase isoforms are encoded by 2 different genes and differ in molecular properties, tissue distribution, subcellular location, and regulation of expression. Arginase I is localized in the cytosol and is highly expressed in the liver and to a much less extent in a few other tissues. Arginase II is a mitochondrial enzyme, which is widely distributed in extrahepatic tissues.In arginine-induced pancreatitis, pancreatic constitutive NOS activity was depleted at 6 hours then gradually increased to significantly higher level than the control at 24 hours. 6 The activity of pancreatic iNOS was significantly increased at 24 hours after L-arginine injection.Most of the IP injected L-arginine is converted to Lornithine rather than L-citrulline, 7,8 therefore indicating a major ro...

Background In severe acute pancreatitis (AP) the CNS is affected manifesting in neurological symptoms. Earlier research from our laboratory showed blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability elevation in a taurocholate-induced AP model. Here we aimed to further explore BBB changes in AP using a different, non-invasive in vivo model induced by l-ornithine. Our goal was also to identify whether l-ornithine, a cationic amino acid, has a direct effect on brain endothelial cells in vitro contributing to the observed BBB changes. Methods AP was induced in rats by the intraperitoneal administration of l-ornithine-HCl. Vessel permeability and the gene expression of the primary transporter of l-ornithine, cationic amino acid transporter-1 (Cat-1) in the brain cortex, pancreas, liver and lung were determined. Ultrastructural changes were followed by transmission electron microscopy. The direct effect of l-ornithine was tested on primary rat brain endothelial cells and a triple co-culture model of the BBB. Viability and barrier integrity, including permeability and TEER, nitrogen monoxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and NF-κB translocation were measured. Fluorescent staining for claudin-5, occludin, ZO-1, β-catenin, cell adhesion molecules Icam-1 and Vcam-1 and mitochondria was performed. Cell surface charge was measured by laser Doppler velocimetry. Results In the l-ornithine-induced AP model vessel permeability for fluorescein and Cat-1 expression levels were elevated in the brain cortex and pancreas. On the ultrastructural level surface glycocalyx and mitochondrial damage, tight junction and basal membrane alterations, and glial edema were observed. l-ornithine decreased cell impedance and elevated the BBB model permeability in vitro. Discontinuity in the surface glycocalyx labeling and immunostaining of junctional proteins, cytoplasmic redistribution of ZO-1 and β-catenin, and elevation of Vcam-1 expression were measured. ROS production was increased and mitochondrial network was damaged without NF-κB, NO production or mitochondrial membrane potential alterations. Similar ultrastructural changes were seen in l-ornithine treated brain endothelial cells as in vivo. The basal negative zeta potential of brain endothelial cells became more positive after l-ornithine treatment. Conclusion We demonstrated BBB damage in the l-ornithine-induced rat AP model suggesting a general, AP model independent effect. l-ornithine induced oxidative stress, decreased barrier integrity and altered BBB morphology in a culture BBB model. These data suggest a direct effect of the cationic l-ornithine on brain endothelium. Endothelial surface glycocalyx injury was revealed both in vivo and in vitro, as an additional novel component of the BBB-related pathological changes in AP.

l-Ornithine-induced pancreatitis was associated with activation of pancreatic polyamine catabolism. However, administration of a metabolically stable polyamine analogue did not affect disease severity.

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