Figure 9
TNF and IL-6 mediate MPNL-induced pain-like behaviours.
The lumbar spinal cord samples were collected at indicated times after MPNL. The mRNA or protein for (A,C) Tnf and (B,D) Il-6 were assessed by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. The withdrawal threshold response to mechanical stimulation was assessed in (C) WT or TNFR1/2−/− mice up to 21 days after MPNL surgery. (E) The mice were treated with infliximab (i.t., 100 μg/site) or vehicle before and 24 h after MPNL. The mechanical withdrawal threshold was assessed 24 after MPNL and up to 24 h after the second dose of infliximab. (F) The withdrawal threshold response to mechanical stimulation was assessed in (C) IL-6−/− mice up to 21 days after surgery. The results are expressed as the mean ± S.E.M. (n = 5 per group). Time 0 represents the baseline value before surgery. ***P < 0.001 and **P < 0.01 to *P < 0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference when compared with the control groups.
