1 Suppression of acute pancreatitis by L - lysine in mice

Background:Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease caused by several factors such as viral infection, drugs,anddiagnostic endoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential protectiveortherapeutic effectsof L-lysine on pancreatitis induced by L-arginine in mice. Methods: Four groups of mice(10 in each group)wereassessed. GroupI was the control. Animals in groups II–IVwereinjected intraperitoneallywith Larginine hydrochloride (400mg/kg body weight [bw])for 3 days.Group III animals wereorally pre-treated with L-lysine (10 mg/kg bw), whereasgroup IV animals were orally post-treated with L-lysine (10mg/kg bw).Serum samples were subjected to amylase, lipase, transaminase, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) assays. The pancreaswas excised to measure the levels ofmalondialdehyde, nitric oxide, catalase, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase.Results:Preor post-treatment with Llysineled to significantdecreases in the levels of malondialdehydeand nitric oxide, while significantenhancement was observed in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and glutathione (p<0.001).However, the treatment potential of L-lysine was better asa protective agent than a therapeutic agent.Conclusions:L-lysine treatment attenuatespancreatic tissue injury by inhibiting the release of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6. These effects may involve upregulation of anti-inflammatoryfactors and subsequent downregulation of IL-6. 2