Interleukin-1 beta influences functional regeneration following nerve injury in mice through NF-kappa B signaling pathway.

This study focuses on investigating the role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in functional regeneration following nerve injury in mice. A microarray-based mRNA profiling study was used to analyze the expression level of IL-1 beta in peripheral nerve regeneration. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were applied to assess the IL-1 beta expressions of C57BL/6J-crush and C57BL/6J-crush+IL-1 beta 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-1 beta 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-1 beta mice, the nerve regeneration of C57BL/6J-crush mice was worse after nerve crush injury. IL-1 beta increased mechanical sensitivity and stimulated amplitude. IL-1 beta could benefit the recovery of sciatic nerve crush injury by facilitating nerve regeneration.