Quantitative changes in interleukin proteins following focal stroke in therat

The aim of the present study was to quantitate the temporal changes in prot ein concentration for interleukin (IL)-1, IL-1 beta, IL-1ra, and IL-6 from 1 h to 15 days following focal ischemia. Protein expression was evaluated b y enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay utilizing newly available rat antibodie s. There were no detectable basal levels of IL-1 alpha, 1L-1 beta, or IL-6 in the sham-operated or non-ischemic control cortex. IL-1 beta (increased s ignificantly (P < 0.05) as early as 4 h and peaked at 3 to 5 days. IL-1 alp ha (increased significantly (P < 0.05) at 3 days. IL-6 increased early and peaked at 24 h (P < 0.05). IL-1ra increased significantly (P < 0.05) over b asal levels from 12 h to 5 days. The present study provides the first quant itative determination of interleukin protein concentrations in the rat brai n following focal stroke and demonstrates that this technology is now avail able for mechanistic studies in neuroprotection. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.