Concomitant upregulation of nuclear factor-κB activity, proinflammatory cytokines and ICAM-1 in the injured brain after cortical contusion trauma in a rat model

Background: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), proinflammatory cytokines and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) are frequently upregulated in the injured brain after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the temporal pattern of upregulation is not well defined. Aims: The current study was undertaken to investigate the temporal profile of the expression of NF-kB, proinflammatory cytokines and ICAM-1 in the injured brain after cortical contusion trauma of the rat brain. Settings and Design: A rat model of cortical contusion was produced by a free-falling weight on the exposed dura of right parietal lobe. The rats were randomly divided into control group and TBI groups at hours 3, 12, 24 and 72, and on day 7. Material and Methods: NF-kB binding activity in the surrounding brain of injured area was studied by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were detected using ELISA and ICAM-1 expression studied by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test. Relation between variables was analyzed using bivariate correlation with two-tailed test. Results: Compared with that of control group, NF-kB binding activity in the injured brain was significantly increased through 12 h and 7 days postinjury, with the maximum at 72 h. The concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the injured brain were significantly increased from 3 h to 7 days and maximal at 24 h postinjury. The number of ICAM-1 immunostained microvessels was significantly increased in the injured brain from 24 h to 7 days postinjury, with its peak at 72 h. Concomitant upregulation of TNF-alpha, IL-6, ICAM-1 and the cytokine mediators NF-kB in the injured brain was observed in the injured brain after cortical contusion, and there was a highly positive relation among these variables. Conclusions: Cortical contusion trauma could induce a concomitant and persistent upregulation of NF-kB binding activity, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and ICAM-1 in the in jured rat brain which might play a central role in the injury-induced immune response of brain.