Honokiol Prevents Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Mice with Severe Acute Pancreatitis and Inhibits JAK/STAT1 Pathway and Acetylation of HMGB1

Objective:To investigate the effect of honokiol(HON) and the role of high-mobility group protein B1(HMGB1) on the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).Methods:Thirty mice were numbered according to weight,and randomly divided into 5 groups using a random number table,including control,SAP,SAP and normal saline(SAP+NS),SAP and ethyl pyruvate(SAP+EP),or SAP+HON groups,6 mice in each group.Samples of pancreas,intestine,and blood were collected 12 h after SAP model induction for examination of pathologic changes,immune function alterations by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and Western blot.In vitro experiments,macrophages were divided into 5 groups,the control,lipopolysaccharide(LPS), LPS+DMSO(DMSO),LPS+anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody(mAb),and LPS+HON groups.The tight connection level was determined by transmission electron microscopy and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled.The location and acetylation of HMGB1 were measured by Western blot.Finally,pyridone 6 and silencing signal transducer and activator of the transcription 1(siSTAT1) combined with honokiol were added to determine whether the Janus kinase(JAK)/STAT1 participated in the regulation of honokiol on HMGB1.The protein expression levels of HMGB1,JAK,and STAT1 were detected using Western blot.Results:Mice with SAP had inflammatory injury in the pancreas,bleeding of intestinal tissues,and cells with disrupted histology.Mice in the SAP+HON group had significantly fewer pathological changes.Mice with SAP also had significant increases in the serum levels of amylase,lipase,HMGB1,tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,diamine oxidase,endotoxin-1,and procalcitonin.Mice in the SAP+HON group did not show these abnormalities(P<0.01).Studies of Caco-2 cells indicated that LPS increased the levels of occludin and claudin-1 as well as tight junction permeability,decreased the levels of junctional adhesion molecule C,and elevated intercellular permeability(P<0.01).HON treatment blocked these effects.Studies of macrophages indicated that LPS led to low nuclear levels of HMGB1,however,HON treatment increased the nuclear level of HMGB1(P<0.01).HON treatment also inhibited the expressions of JAK1,JAK2,and STAT1(P<0.01) and increased the acetylation of HMGB1(P<0.05).Conclusion:HON prevented intestinal barrier dysfunction in SAP by inhibiting HMGB1 acetylation and JAK/STAT1 pathway.