Fig. 4: Effect of IL-6-neutralizing antibodies (IL-6-AB) on the development of paclitaxel-induced sensory neuropathy.

a Schematic overview of preventive treatment with IL-6-AB MAB406: Adult male C57Bl/6 mice received one intraperitoneal application of the IL-6-AB MAB406 (5 mg/kg BW) or unspecific IgG prior to PTX (4 × 1 mg/kg BW) or VEH treatment. Mice were assessed for behavioral signs of neuropathy on days 7 and 13, electrophysiological measurements were performed at baseline and on days 7 and 14 after initial PTX injection. b There were no significant weight differences between VEH and PTX treatment in any of the groups. c Locomotor function remained unchanged regardless of treatment. d PTX treated mice, which had previously received the control IgG, developed mechanical hypersensitivity while mice of the PTX/IL-6-AB group were protected from these changes. e PTX treatment led to a significant reduction of the SNAP amplitude by ~50% in mice which received the control antibody (IgG), while preventive IL-6-AB application maintained axonal integrity during PTX therapy. f Mice with the preventive IL-6-AB treatment were protected from PTX-induced neuropathy as fiber density was comparable to control values. Error bars depict SEM. Statistical analysis: b–f two-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc of n = 6–8 mice/group; *p < 0.05, NS not significant.