Interleukin-1β influences functional regeneration following nerve injury in mice through nuclear factor-κ B signaling pathway

This study focuses on investigating the role of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) in functional regeneration following nerve injury in mice. A microarray‐based mRNA profiling study was used to analyze the expression level of IL‐1β in peripheral nerve regeneration. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were applied to assess the IL‐1β expressions of C57BL/6J‐crush and C57BL/6J‐crush+IL‐1β mice at different post‐injury time‐points after the standard sciatic nerve crush injury. The outcomes of nerve regeneration were evaluated by behavioral tests. IL‐1β was found to be up‐regulated in peripheral nerve regeneration and significantly raised on the 3rd day and returned to normal levels on the 14th day after nerve injury. Compared with C57BL/6J‐crush+IL‐1β mice, the nerve regeneration of C57BL/6J‐crush mice was worse after nerve crush injury. IL‐1β increased mechanical sensitivity and stimulated amplitude. IL‐1β could benefit the recovery of sciatic nerve crush injury by facilitating nerve regeneration.