Protective Mechanism of MIF Inhibitor ISO-1 on Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cells in Rats with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Aims This study aimed to explore the protection mechanism of ISO-1 on severe acute pancreatitis-associated intrahepatic bile duct (IBD) injury in rats. Methods Forty-eight specific-pathogen-free male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups ( N = 12): a sham operation group (SO group), a severe acute pancreatitis model group (SAP group), a ISO-1 treatment group (ISO-1 + SAP group), and a ISO-1 control group (ISO-1 + SO group). All rats were killed after 12 h of being made models. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of MIF and P38 in IBD cells. MIF mRNA expression in IBD cells was observed using real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). In addition, Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expression of P38, phosphorylated P38 (P-P38), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB p65), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to analyze the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the IBD of rats. Results Compared with SAP, after treatment with ISO-1, the pathological injuries of pancreas, liver, and IBD cells in ISO-1 treatment group remarkably relieved. The expression of MIF in the IBD cells was significantly downregulated both at mRNA and at protein levels in ISO-1 treatment group. Besides, the protein expression levels of P38, P-P38, NF-κBp65, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the IBD in rats were also significantly decreased in ISO-1 treatment group (all P