The effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on the expression of interleukin-8 after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits

Objective To study the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin(rHuEPO) treatment on the expression of interleukin-8(IL-8) after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Forty-four healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham group(n=4),control group(n=20),rHuEPO treated group(n=20).The rabbit model was established by clamping the infrarenal aortic for 30 minutes and then reperfused.Normal saline,rHuEPO were administrated respectively except for the sham group.At the time of 6h,12 h,24 h,48 h,7 d,four animals of each group were killed and the spinal cords(L3-5) were removed.The expression of IL-8 was evaluated by means of immunohistochemical method.Results The expression of IL-8 was detected in non-injured spinal cord.The expression of IL-8 progressively increased as time extended after reperfusion,peaked at 24h after spinal cord injury,and remained significantly higher than that in the non-injured spinal cord for 7d post-injury.rHuEPO significantly reduced the expression of IL-8 in the injured spinal cord in comparison with that in control animals receiving NS vehicle at 6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h and 7d after spinal cord injury(P0.05).Conclusion rHuEPO may have anti-inflamation effect on neurons,which can significantly reduce the expression of IL-8 after spinal cord injury in rabbit.