Interleukin-1 beta induction of neuron apoptosis depends on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity after spinal cord injury.

Aim: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) has been implicated as an extracellular signal in the initiation of apoptosis in neurons and oligodendrocytes after spinal cord injury (SCI). To further characterize the apoptotic cascade initiated by IL-1beta after SCI, we examined the expression of IL-1beta, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and caspase-3 after SCI, and further investigated whether p38 MAPK was involved in neuron apoptosis induced by IL-1beta.

Methods: Adult rats were given contusion SCI at the T-10 vertebrae level with a weight-drop impactor (10 g weight dropped 25.