Hydrogen sulfide formation in experimental model of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease defined as acute or chronic inflammatory process of the pancreas characterized by premature activation of digestive enzymes within the pancreatic acinar cells and causing pancreatic auto-digestion. In mammalian tissues, H2S is synthesized endogenously from L-cysteine in regulated enzymatic pathways catalyzed by pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes: cystathionine beta - synthase (CBS), gamma - cystathionase (CTH) and cysteine aminotransferase (CAT) coupled with 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST). In the mitochondria, hydrogen sulfide is oxidized to sulfite, which is then converted to thiosulfate (sulfane sulfur-containing compound) by thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (rhodanese; TST). The activity and the expression of CBS, CTH, MPST, and TST have been determined in vivo in pancreas of control rats, rats with acute pancreatitis and sham group. Levels of low-molecular sulfur compounds such as reduced and oxidized glutathione, cysteine, cystine and cystathionine were also determined. The study showed the significant role of MPST in H2S metabolism in pancreas. Stress caused by the surgery (sham group) and AP cause a decrease in H2S production associated with a decrease of MPST activity and expression. Markedly higher level of cysteine in the AP pancreas may be caused by a reduced rate of cysteine consumption in reaction catalyzed by MPST but it can also be a sign of the processes of proteolysis occurring in the changed tissue.