Effect of chloroquine on autophagy and the severity of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice

Impaired autophagy is implicated in the pathogenesis of caerulein-induced model of acute pancreatitis (AP). Chloroquine blocks the fusion of autophagosome and lysosome and affects completion of the cellular autophagic flux. Adult, male, Swiss albino mice (20–25 g) were divided into four groups- 1, 2, 3 and 4 of 6 mice each. Mice in Group1 were given 8, hourly intraperitoneal injections of normal saline. Group 2 was also given intraperitoneal injections of chloroquine (60 mg/Kg) at 14 h and 30-min prior to first injection of normal saline. Mice in Groups 3 and 4 given 8, hourly intraperitoneal injections of caerulein (50 µg /Kg/dose). Group 4 also received chloroquine as Group 2. After sacrifice at the 9th hour in CO₂-chamber, blood was drawn for amylase activity and cytokines estimation (IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, IL-1β and IL-10) and pancreas was harvested for histopathology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunoblotting (LC3II, Beclin 1, SQSTM1, RIPK1, P65, Caspase-3, RIPK3, HMGB1). The relative expression of SQSTM1 and the autophagic vacuole area was higher in groups 2, 3 and 4 (p < 0.05), suggestive of increased impairment of autophagic flux. Autolysosome count was significantly increased in group 3 in comparison to group 1 (p = 0.0049). Autolysosome area was also increased in group 4 in comparison to group 3 (p = 0.031), which suggested impairment of autophagy. Total histopathological score and amylase activity were equivalent in groups 3 and 4. RIPK1 in pancreas and TNF-α level in plasma were more in group 4 than 3 (p = 0.014, 0.02, respectively). Expression of Caspase-3, was lesser in group 4 than 3 (p < 0.001). Expression of HMGB1was more in group 4 than 3 (p = 0.046). Chloroquine enhances necrosis and inflammation in caerulein-induced pancreatitis.