Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Chaiqin Chengqi decoction(CQCQD) on acute pancreatitis(AP) by janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK/STAT) signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.METHODS: AP was induced by caerulein both in AR42J cells and in mice. AR42J cells were divided into five groups: the control group, the AP group, the CQCQD group, JAK/STAT signaling pathway inhibitor AG490 group, and the CQCQD and AG490 group.After induction, cellular supernatant of five groups were collected for measuring the concentrations of inflammatory cytokine amylase, interleukin 6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin 1β(IL-1β), nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression of JAK-2,STAT-3 signaling transduction proteins by Western blot, respectively. Experiments in mice were performed similar to that of in AR42J cells.RESULTS: Treatment of AR42J cells with CQCQD reduced the pancreatic injury and negatively regulated the activities of amylase, as well as inhibited expression of several inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB. Administration of CQCQD significantly inhibited JAK-2 activation and down-regulated phosphorylation of downstream substrate STAT-3 the same as AG490, resulting in inhibition of inflammatory mediators and amelioration of pancreatitis.CONCLUSION: The results suggested that CQCQD exerted anti-inflammatory effects on AP via reducing expression and phosphorylation of JAK and STAT.

Key words: Pancreatic diseases, Anti-inflammatory agents, Janus kinase 2, STAT transcription factors, Chaiqin Chengqi decoction