Luteolin inhibits pancreatitis-induced acinar-ductal metaplasia, proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of acinar cells

Luteolin, a flavone, has been demonstrated to have anti-cancer properties. In the current study, the effects of luteolin on certain carcinogenesis-associated changes induced by pancreatitis, which are significant risk factors for pancreatic cancer, were investigated. Male six-week-old C57BL6 mice used in the current study were divided into three groups; the control group, acute pancreatitis group and luteolin group. Intra-peritoneal injection of cearulein was performed in the acute pancreatitis group and luteolin group to induce acute pancreatitis whereas the luteolin group received intra-peritoneal injection of luteolin. The control group received intra-peritoneal injection of normal saline. Then, the expression of SOX9, phosphorylated (p-) STAT3, p-EGFR, cytokeratin-19, Ki67 and N-cadherin were determined by immunohistochemistry. Morphological changes of acinar cells were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The mRNA expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers CDH1, CDH2, Slug, Zeb1, EpCAM, ZO1, Vimentin, Snail and Twist was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. It was identified that luteolin inhibits the formation of tubular complexes and ectopic expression of cytokeratin-19 and luteolin also decreased proteins of SOX9, p-STAT3 and p-EGFR. In addition, luteolin inhibits proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of acinar cells induced by acute pancreatitis. As tubular complex formation and ectopic expression of cytokeratin-19 were two prominent characters of acinar-ductal metaplasia, it was concluded that luteolin inhibits acinar-ductal metaplasia induced by pancreatitis and also inhibits pancreatitis-induced proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of acinar cells. Acinar-ductal metaplasia and proliferation have close associations with pancreatic carcinogenesis. It is suggested that luteolin has potential anti-pancreatic carcinogenesis effects and merits further investigation.