Edaravone Protects against Pancreatic and Intestinal Injury after Acute Pancreatitis via Nuclear Factor-B Signaling in Mice

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one kind of acute surgical abdominal disease in the world. It causes intestinal damage with subsequent bacterial migration, endotoxemia and secondary pancreatic infections. In this investigation, we determined that edaravone (EDA) reduces pancreatic and intestinal injury after AP in mice. This was demonstrated by a reduction in histological score, apoptosis, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, along with obstructing activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF kappa B). Our study results suggested that EDA exerts its protective effects against pancreatic and intestinal injury after AP via regulation of the TLR4/NF kappa B pathway. Our findings provide the basis for EDA to treat AP-induced pancreatic and intestinal injury, even might develop as a potential therapy for other inflammatory diseases.