Experimental evidence of obesity as a risk factor for severe acute pancreatitis

Figure 1 Overview of the major events occurring in experimental acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury. Inflammatory cells adhere to the endothelial walls via the expression of the intercellular molecules (ICAM-1) and translate the local inflammation to remote organs.

Figure 2 Mediators involved in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. After the acinar cell injury occurs, inflammatory cells will synthesize and release proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines that induce systemic effects (vascular leakage, etc.). All these consequences will finally dictate the occurrence of pancreatic necrosis and abscess.