Dachengqi Decoction alleviates acute pancreatitis by down-regulating autophagy related protein Beclin1

Abstract Objective: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common acute abdominal disease characterized by pancreatic acinar cell death and inflammation. Excessive autophagy of acinar cells will aggravate AP, further develop into SAP, and even endanger life. Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD) is a commonly used drug in clinic for acute pancreatitis. Beclin1 is a vital autophagy-related molecule in disease. We investigated DCQD treat acute pancreatitis by intervening Beclin1 to regulate the autophagy of acinar cells. Methods: Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with 20% L-arginine to reproduce AP rat model. AP rat were treated with DCQD and 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) and compared to AP rats pre-treated with 20% L-arginine. we examined the levels of serum TNF-α, Beclin1 and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by ELISA; stained the pancreas tissues of rats with Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE); observed the autophagy formation in pancreas tissues by transmission electron microscopy; and detected the expression of Beclin1 and light chain 3-Ⅱ(LC3-II) protein level in pancreas tissues by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Result: The levels of serum Amylase, Beclin1, ROS, TNF-α and pathological scores of pancreas were significantly elevated by injected intraperitoneally with 20% L-arginine. The results of electron microscopy showed that the autophagy of pancreatic tissue increased significantly in AP rats, but decreased in rats treated with DCQD or 3-MA. DCQD and 3-MA could significantly reduce the levels of serum Amylase, Beclin1, ROS and TNF-α in rats. Western blot and immunohistochemical results showed that DCQD and 3-MA significantly reduced Beclin1 and LC3-II proteins. Conclusion: Our studies showed that Beclin1 is closely related to acute pancreatitis, and DCQD could inhabited Beclin1 and excessive autophagy.