Abdominal paracentesis drainage attenuates intestinal barrier dysfunction via upregulating ZO-1 expression in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Background: Our previous reports found that abdominal paracentesis drainage (APD) benefits the clinical outcome in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, the effect of APD on SAP-associated intestinal injury remains unclear. Objective: We aimed to determine whether APD could attenuate intestinal barrier dysfunction and bacterial translocation in rats with SAP. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham operation, SAP and APD groups after labeling with green fluorescent protein-expressing Escherichia coli (GFP-E. coli). The SAP group was induced with sodium taurocholate. Rats in the APD group had a drainage tube inserted following SAP. 24 hours after the operation, the samples of blood, intestine, pancreas and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) were taken for histological, bacteriological, and serum analysis. Results: APD decreased the translocation of bacteria to the MLN and pancreas. Furthermore, we found that APD could exert a protective role in intestinal barrier function, which was exhibited by the decreased pathological scores and the serum levels of iFABP, DAO and D-lactate. Importantly, APD upregulated the expression of ZO-1 in intestine, thus maintaining the integrity of intestinal barrier. Conclusion: Together, our results indicate that APD reduces bacterial translocation and intestinal barrier dysfunction, thereby resulting in a protective role in SAP-associated intestinal injury.