Effects of tocilizamabin on neural tissue healing during experimental spinal cord injury in rats

Cytokines are molecules that play an important role in then regulation of the immüne system and proinflammatory-inflammatory processes in the organism. Cytokines are in volved in local and systemic inflammatory reactions against foreign antigens and agents. An important part of cytokines are interleukins. Interleukin (IL)-6 was first identified as an immunoglobulin-secreting factor by preactivated normal human lymphocytes. The IL-6 receptor exists in two forms: membrane (IL-6R) and soluble (sIL-6R). Tocilizumab binds to these receptors and inhibits the signal ingand inflammation processes in which IL-6 is involved. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate whether tocilizumab treatment has a positive effect on the neural tissue in the injury caused by acute spinal cord injury (ASCİ). In the study, spinal cord injury was created in rats with the help of the apparatus in the experimental environment, and low and high doses of tocilizumab were administered intraperitoneally to the rats after causing damage to the spinal cord. At the end of the tocilizumab treatment, on the 8th day, the rats were sacrificed and sent fo rpathological examination. The results were compared with the results of spinal cord injured rats not given tocilizumab and given methyl prednisolone. According to the results of inclined plane, Drummond and Moore Criteria, Hemotoxylin-eosin, Luxolfast and Cleavedcaspase 3 immunohistochemicalstaining, tocilizumab was found to be effective in removing the damage caused by ASCİ. It was observed that this effect increased when the treatment dose was increased. It has been observed that tocilizumab may be beneficial in thetreatment of ASCİ.However, the findings need to be supported by clinical and laboratory studies conducted in larger series. KEY WORDS: Tocilizumab, Acute spinal cord injury, Anti-inflammatory, Interleukin (IL)-6, methylprednisolone