Involvement of 5-lipoxygenase in spinal cord injury

Abstract: A traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) induces a sequelae of events which conduce biochemical and cellular alterations. Here we compare the degree of spinal cord injury caused by the application of vascular clips, in mice lacking the 5-lipoxygenase and in the corresponding wild-type mice. Biochemical, immunohistochemical and functional studies revealed respectively an increase of neutrophils infiltration, of IL-1β, TNF-α immunoreactivity, apoptosis (measured by Annexin-V staining) and loss of hind legs movement in SCI operated 5-LO wild-type mice. In contrast, the degree of (1) neutrophil infiltration at different time points, (2) cytokine expression (TNF-α and IL-1β), (3) histological damage, (4) apoptosis, was markedly reduced in the tissues obtained from SCI operated 5-LO deficient mice and (5) the motor recovery was ameliorated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]