Effects of erythropoietin on the expression of NF-κB and inflammatory cytokines after acute spinal cord injury in rats

Objective To observe the influence of erythropoietin(EPO) on the expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) and inflammatory factors of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-6 following acute spinal cord injury and to explore the possible mechanism of reducing secondary spinal cord injury.Methods Eighteen SD rats were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups of sham control group,injury model group and treatment group.Treatment group was given intraperitoneal injection of EPO(5000U/kg) at 1h,on the 1st,2nd and 3rd day after establisgment of spinal cord injury model.All rats were sacrificed after 3 days.The expression of NF-κB was detected by EMSA assay and the expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were examined with ELISA.Results The levels of NF-κB,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 in spinal cord tissue of treatment group were significantly lower than those in injury model group(P0.05).Conclusion EPO administration can down-regulate the expressions of the inflammatory factors,inhibit the inflammatory response and play a role in protecting the secondary spinal cord injury.