title: The neuroprotective effects of rituximab in rat spinal cord injury model: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we investigate the neuroprotective effects of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody directed towards B cell mediated humoral immunity, on a rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model with immunohistochemical methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four rats were used for the study. Rats were divided as control, SCI, and rituximab-treated SCI groups. Intraperitoneal rituximab administration was performed on days 0, 3 and 5 in the third group. Rats were sacrificed 7 days after trauma. Antibodies against IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and CD20 were studied with the ELISA method together with electron microscopic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that rituximab suppressed oligodendrocytes at the phagocytic stage but was still inefficient for the regenerative phase. TNF-α expression was markedly increased in rats subjected to SCI and suppressed after rituximab treatment. Decreased CD20 expression was another prominent finding in rats under rituximab therapy. However, expressions of IL-1β and IL-6 were both increased in glial cells without significant change after rituximab administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TNF-α expression was augmented at the level of SCI both in neuronal and glial cells, particularly in oligodendrocytes. All were suppressed after rituximab administration and rituximab reduced CD20 expression both in neuronal and supportive glial cells which may be related to neural healing.
authors: Adana Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Adana, Turkey.
authors: Guner
authors: G
authors: Menekse
authors: Ergun
authors: E
authors: Daglioglu
authors: Osman Arikan
authors: OA
authors: Nacar
authors: Ersin
authors: E
authors: Polat
authors: Cagatay
authors: C
authors: Ozdol
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Dalgic
authors: Gulnur
authors: G
authors: Take
authors: Ali Ihsan
authors: AI
authors: Okten
authors: Ahmet Deniz
authors: AD
authors: Belen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000069283:Rituximab; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069283:Rituximab