Chaiqin Chengqi decoction inhibits inflammatory mediators and attenuates acute pancreatitis through deactivation of janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Chaiqin Chengqi decoction (CQCQD) on acute pancreatitis (AP) by Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: AP was induced by caerulein both in AR42J cells and in mice. AR42J cells were divided into five groups: the control group, the AP group, the CQCQD group, JAK/STAT signaling pathway inhibitor AG490 group, and the CQCQD and AG490 group. After induction, cellular supernatant of five groups were collected for measuring the concentrations of inflammatory cytokine amylase, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression of JAK-2, STAT-3 signaling transduction proteins by Western blot, respectively. Experiments in mice were performed similar to that of in AR42J cells. RESULTS: Treatment of AR42J cells with CQCQD reduced the pancreatic injury and negatively regulated the activities of amylase, as well as inhibited expression of several inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, NF-kappa B. Administration of CQCQD significantly inhibited JAK-2 activation and down-regulated phosphorylation of downstream substrate STAT-3 the same as AG490, resulting in inhibition of inflammatory mediators and amelioration of pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that CQCQD exerted anti-inflammatory effects on AP via reducing expression and phosphorylation of JAK and STAT. (C) 2019 JTCM. All rights reserved.