Cerebral microdialysis of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6: extraction efficiency and production in the acute phase after severe traumatic brain injury in rats

Background As a research tool, cerebral microdialysis might be a useful technique in monitoring the release of cytokines into the extracellular fluid (ECF) following traumatic brain injury (TBI). We established extraction efficiency of Interleukin(IL)-1ß and Interleukin(IL)-6 by an in vitro microdialysis-perfusion system, followed by in vivo determination of the temporal profile of extracellular fluid cytokines after severe TBI in rats. Materials and methods In vitro experiments using a polyether sulfon (PES) microdialysis probe especially developed for recovery of macromolecules such as cytokines, were carried out to establish the extraction efficiency of IL-1ß and IL-6 from artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with defined IL-1ß and IL-6 concentrations. In vivo experiments in which rats were subjected to TBI or sham and microdialysis samples were collected from the parietal lobe for measurement of cytokines. Findings The extraction efficiency was maximal 6.05% (range, 5.97–6.13%) at 0.5 µl/min −1 and decreased at higher flow rates. Both cytokines were detectable in the dialysates. Highest IL-1ß levels were found within 200 min, highest IL-6 concentrations were detected at later intervals (200–400 min). No differences were found between the TBI and control groups. Conclusions Cerebral microdialysis allows measurement of cytokine secretion in the ECF of brain tissue in rats.