Beneficial effects of Etanercept on experimental necrotizing enterocolitis.
OBJECTIVE
Tissue damage in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) of infants occurs as a result of an uncontrolled inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate any potential anti-inflammatory effects that Etanercept may have on the inflammatory response in an experimental NEC model in newborn rats.


METHODS
Newborn pups were randomized into three groups immediately after birth (Control, NEC + Placebo and NEC + Etanercept). Pups in the NEC + Placebo and NEC + Etanercept groups were subjected to an NEC-inducing protocol (hypercarbia, hypothermia and hyperoxia) twice a day for 3 days. Pups in the NEC + Etanercept group were given an intraperitoneal injection of Etanercept. Rats were harvested for biochemical and histopathological examinations.


RESULTS
The histopathological injury score of rats in the NEC + Placebo group was significantly higher compared to the NEC + Etanercept and Control groups (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). Tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and malondialdehyde were higher in the placebo group compared to the Etanercept group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that Etanercept attenuates intestinal tissue damage in NEC by reducing inflammation and blocking the production of free-oxygen radicals, while also reducing tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching Hospital, 06110, Hamamönü/Ankara, Turkey, dryurttutan@gmail.com.
Sadık
S
Yurttutan
Ramazan
R
Ozdemir
Fuat Emre
FE
Canpolat
Mehmet Yekta
MY
Oncel
Hatice Germen
HG
Unverdi
Bülent
B
Uysal
Ömer
Ö
Erdeve
Ugur
U
Dilmen
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068800:Etanercept; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000068800:Etanercept