Neuroprotective effects of tocilizumab on experimentally induced spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury

Abstract Study design Experimental rabbit spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) inury model. Objectives We aimed to evaluate neuroprotective effects of tocilizumab on spinal cord I/R inury. Setting Animal Research Laboratory, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey. Methods Twenty four adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1, control group (n=8); Group 2, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group and group 3 (n=8), I/R injury+ tocilizumab (4 mg/kg,ip) treatment group. Spinal cord I/R injury was performed by infrarenal aortic cross clamping. Neurological evaluation, spinal cord tissue and plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), interleukin 6 (IL 6), interleukin 10 (IL 10) levels were analyzed. Spinal cord neuronal damage score and apoptotic cell count were also investigated. Results I/R injury significantly increase the plasma and spinal cord tissue TNF alpha, TOS, TBARS, IL6 levels and decrease the plasma and spinal cord tissue TAS and IL10 levels. Tocilizumab treatment significantly reduce the plasma and spinal cord tissue TNF alpha, TOS, TBARS, IL6 levels and increase plasma and tissue TAS and IL10 levels. I/R injury significantly increase spinal cord neuronal damage score and apoptotic cell count. Tocilizumab treatment significantly reduce spinal cord neuronal damage score and apoptotic cell count. Neurological examination scores at 24., 48. and 72. hours were significantly better in treatment group when compared with the I/R group. Conclusion This study shows significant neuroprotective effects of tocilizumab on rabbit spinal cord I/R injury.