Feng Wu1, Xiao-Yan Ding2, Xiao-Hui Li3, Min-Jie Gong4, Jia-Qi An5, Sheng-Li Huang6. 1. Center of teaching and experiment for medical post graduates, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an No 3 Hospital, Xi'an 710021, China. 3. Departments of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. 4. Departments of Otorhinolaryngology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 7100004, China. 5. Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 7100061, China. 6. Department of Orthopaedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. Electronic address: huangshengli@xjtu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disorder. After SCI, it initiates a robust immune response. Considering the spleen is one of the most important immune organs, the present study further characterizes the inflammatory cytokine profile of spleen in acute SCI. METHODS: Adult rats were divided into sham and SCI groups (n = 36). SCI was produced at the T3 vertebral level. The whole blood and spleen was collected at 6, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h after SCI. The levels of the inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β) in spleen and serum were measured with an ELISA kit. RESULTS: The results showed significantly elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α in spleen compared with control group levels. Inflammatory cytokine levels of spleen correlated negatively with spleen index. CONCLUSION: It was found that inflammatory cytokines in spleen showed dynamic responses to SCI, which suggest their specificity change of spleen caused by SCI. These results suggest that a possible involvement of spleen in the initiation of the inflammatory response after SCI.
BACKGROUND:Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disorder. After SCI, it initiates a robust immune response. Considering the spleen is one of the most important immune organs, the present study further characterizes the inflammatory cytokine profile of spleen in acute SCI. METHODS: Adult rats were divided into sham and SCI groups (n = 36). SCI was produced at the T3 vertebral level. The whole blood and spleen was collected at 6, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h after SCI. The levels of the inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β) in spleen and serum were measured with an ELISA kit. RESULTS: The results showed significantly elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α in spleen compared with control group levels. Inflammatory cytokine levels of spleen correlated negatively with spleen index. CONCLUSION: It was found that inflammatory cytokines in spleen showed dynamic responses to SCI, which suggest their specificity change of spleen caused by SCI. These results suggest that a possible involvement of spleen in the initiation of the inflammatory response after SCI.