Glucagonlike Peptide 2 Protects Intestinal Barrier in Severe Acute Pancreatitis Through Regulating Intestinal Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) on intestinal barrier dysfunction in severe acute pancreatitis and to explore the putative mechanism of this effect. Methods: Thirty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group 1 received sham operation. Severe acute pancreatitis was induced in group 2 and group 3 via retrograde injection of 3% sodium taurocholate to the pancreatic duct. Rats in group 3 were peritoneally injected with GLP-2. Intestinal barrier dysfunction was characterized by the histological measurements and concentration of plasma diamine oxidase. The tissue sections of ileum were collected for the detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein and apoptosis. Results: Glucagon-like peptide 2 administration improved the ileal mucosal injury, which was also demonstrated by the histological score of ileal mucosa. The concentration of diamine oxidase was decreased in rats with acute pancreatitis treated with GLP-2. Acute pancreatitis-induced epithelial cell apoptosis was partly prevented by GLP-2. Immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein was increased in group 3 compared with that in group 2. Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that GLP-2 has a protective effect on intestinal barrier dysfunction in rats with severe acute pancreatitis via mechanisms closely involving promotion of cell growth and inhibition of intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis.