Obesity Damaged Intestinal Mucosal Barrier and Microbiota Composition in Rat Model of Acute Pancreatitis

Obesity is an independent risk factor for aggravating acute pancreatitis (AP). But how obesity influences intestinal mucosal barrier (IMB) was unknown under AP. This study was aimed to investigate the action of obesity on IMB injury, intestinal leptin expression and gut microbiota during AP. AP was induced in chow fed and high fat diet (HFD) rats by retrograde infusion of Na-taurocholate into bile-pancreatic duct. Pancreatic pathologic score (11.39±1.76 vs. 14.11±1.05, p=0.005), intestinal permeability to FD4 (0.91±0.25µg/ml vs. 7.06±3.67µg/ml, p<0.001), serum leptin (10.25±5.59 ng/ml vs. 79.73±38.44ng/ml, p<0.001) and ileal apoptosis (2.05±0.73% vs. 4.53±2.28%, p=0.006) were significantly higher in obese rats than those in lean rats with AP. The intestinal proliferation, ilea leptin level and expression of leptin receptor in obese rats with AP were greatly decreased compared with those in lean rats. Obesity may decrease gut bacterial diversity. Increased Proteobacteria proportion and decrease of Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, Clostridium were observed in obese rats with AP. Obesity may aggravate AP through increasing intestinal permeability and exacerbation of intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Leptin may be related to IMB damage in obese rats with AP.