AIM: To observe the effects of Egr-1 gene knockout on the expression of inflammatory-related factors in pancreatic tissue in a mouse acute pancreatitis model.METHODS: The experimental pancreatitis was induced by high-dose of cearulein in wildtype mice and Egr-1 knockout mice.The pancreatitis indexes,such as serum amylase,pancreata edema,and myeloperoxidase(MPO) levels in pancreata and lungs were recorded.The mRNA levels of tissue factor(TF),plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI-1),monocyte chemoattractant protein(MCP-1),Gro-1,IL-6 and ICAM-1 were measured by quantitative PCR.RESULTS: Contrary to wildtype mice,typical pancreatitis was not induced by high-dose cearulein in the Egr-1 knockout mice,not only markedly reduced edema in pancreata and lungs,but decreased MPO levels in lungs as well were found.Furthermore,the mRNA of TF,PAI,MCAP,ICAM-1 and IL-6 in pancreata were significantly decreased in Egr-1 knockout mice.CONCLUSION: The severity of pancreatitis and lung damage is ameliorated in Egr-1 knockout mice stimulated by high-dosage of cearulein,which was probably mediated by decreasing expression of inflammatory-related factors in pancreata,such as TF,PAI,MCP-1,ICAM-1 and IL-6.