Abstract:

Objective   To detect expressions of inflammatory factors, ICAM-1,VCAM-1 and TNF-α, in rats after lithium-pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus(SE) and the effect of tacrolimus(FK506) on them. Methods   168 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the SE group, the FK506 group and the control group. The hippocampal neuronal damage after SE was observed by HE staining, and expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and TNF-α mRNA and proteins were detected using immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR method, respectively. Results    Compared with the control group, expression of TNF-α mRNA arrived at the peak 5h after SE. Whereas, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA expressions reached maximum levels 1d after SE and remained to elevate until 7d after SE. Pre-treatment with FK506 could remarkably decrease mRNA levels of these inflammatory factors. Significant increases in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 protein expressions were detected at SE 1d, which were remarkably attenuated by FK506. FK506 also obviously alleviated hippocampal neuronal damage. Conclusion   Inflammatory reaction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. FK506 exerts anti-epileptic and neuroprotective effects through inhibition of inflammatory reaction.

Key words: Tacrolimus; Status epilepticus; Tumor necrosis factor