Peripheral administration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist inhibits brain damage after focal cerebral ischemia in the rat

We assessed the efficacy of recombinant human interleukin-l receptor antagonist (rhIL-1ra) on brain injury and edema formation after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in the rat. Previous studies showed that low amounts of rhIL-1ra injected directly into the brain significantly decreased infarct size after MCAo or excitotoxic injury in rats. Peripheral administration of rhIL-1ra (100 mg/kg sc at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 18 h after MCAo) significantly inhibited infarct size, by 46% (P < 0.05), measured at 24 h. This was greater than the effect of MK801 administered immediately after MCAo (4 mg/kg ip, 0 h) which did not significantly reduce infarct size. rhIL-1ra (100 mg/kg) also significantly inhibited cerebral edema formation by 49% (P < 0.05) measured 24 h after MCAo, but did not reduce edema formation measured 2 h after MCAo. Inhibition of infarction by rhIL-1ra was dependent on dose and time of administration. Together the results demonstrate that peripherally administered rhIL-1ra at high doses is able to mimic the efficacy of a low dose of rhIL-1ra administered directly into the brain in a rodent model of stroke and that protection observed with rhIL-1ra was better than that offered by MK801 in this model. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.