Interleukin-1 beta influences functional regeneration following nerve injury in mice through NF-kappa B signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: This study focuses on investigating the role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in functional regeneration following nerve injury in mice.

METHODS: A microarray-based mRNA profiling study was used to analyze the expression level of IL-1β in peripheral nerve regeneration. QRT-PCR and western blot were applied to assess the IL-1β expressions of C57BL/6J-crush and C57BL/6J-crush+IL-1β mice at different post-injury time points after the standard sciatic nerve crush injury. The outcomes of nerve regeneration were evaluated by behavioral tests.

RESULTS: IL-1β was found to be upregulated in peripheral nerve regeneration, and significantly raised on the 3rd days and returned on 14th days after nerve injury. Compared with C57BL/6J-crush+IL-1β mice, the nerve regeneration of C57BL/6J-crush mice was worse after nerve crush injury. IL-1β increased mechanical sensitivity and stimulated amplitude.

CONCLUSIONS: IL-1β could benefit the recovery of sciatic nerve crush injury by facilitating nerve regeneration. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.