Murine pancreatic duct ligation induces stress kinase activation, acute pancreatitis, and acute lung injury

Background Acute lung injury is a major determinant of outcomes in acute pancreatitis. We evaluated acute lung injury and stress kinase activation in ligation-induced acute pancreatitis in mice. Methods Mice with duct ligation or sham operation were killed after 24 or 48 hours. Results In addition to acute pancreatitis, duct ligation was associated with pulmonary morphologic changes indicative of acute lung injury (alveolar septal thickening, congestion, and neutrophil infiltration). Furthermore, immunoblotting showed stress kinase activation in the pancreas and lung after ligation. Although mortality was observed in the ligated group, that is consistent with severe lung injury, it requires further evaluation. Conclusions Bile and pancreatic duct ligation in the mouse is associated with pancreatic and pulmonary stress kinase activation and acute inflammatory changes consistent with early acute pancreatitis and acute lung injury. Our findings are important as acute lung injury increases mortality in clinical acute pancreatitis and stress kinases are established proinflammatory signal transducers.