Emodin and baicalein inhibit sodium taurocholate-induced vacuole formation in pancreatic acinar cells

AIM To investigate the effects of combined use of emodin and baicalein (CEB) at the cellular and organism levels in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct in 48 male SD rats. Pancreatic histopathology score, serum amylase activity, and levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNf-?), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-10 were determined to assess the effects of CEB at 12 h after the surgery. The rat pancreatic acinar cells were isolated from healthy male SD rats using collagenase. The cell viability, cell ultrastructure, intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration, and inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) expression were investigated to assess the mechanism of CEB. RESULTS Pancreatic histopathology score (2.07 ? 1.20 vs 6.84 ? 1.13, P < 0.05) and serum amylase activity (2866.2 ? 617.7 vs 5241.3 ? 1410.0, P < 0.05) were significantly decreased in the CEB (three doses) treatment group compared with the SAP group (2.07 ? 1.20 vs 6.84 ? 1.13, P < 0.05). CEB dose-dependently reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 (466.82 ? 48.55 vs 603.50 ? 75.53, P < 0.05) and TNF-? (108.04 ? 16.10 vs 215.56 ? 74.67, P < 0.05) and increased the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (200.96 ? 50.76 vs 54.18 ? 6.07, P < 0.05) compared with those in the SAP group. CEB increased cell viability, inhibited cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration, and significantly ameliorated intracellular vacuoles and IP3 mRNA expression compared with those in the SAP group (P < 0.05). There was a trend towards decreased IP3R protein in the CEB treatment group; however, it did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION These results at the cellular and organism levels reflect a preliminary mechanism of CEB in SAP and indicate that CEB is a suitable approach for SAP treatment.