Systemic changes following carrageenan-induced paw inflammation in rats

• Published in: Inflammation research 2015-05, Vol.64 (5), p.333-342
• Main Authors: Vazquez, E., Navarro, M., Salazar, Y., Crespo, G., Bruges, G., Osorio, C., Tortorici, V., Vanegas, H., López, Mercedes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergology; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Carrageenan; Cytokines - metabolism; Dermatology; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - pathology; Fibrinogen - metabolism; Foot - pathology; Immunology; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - pathology; Lung - pathology; Neurology; Original Research Paper; Pain Measurement - drug effects; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rheumatology; Thromboplastin - metabolism
• ISSN: 1023-3830; 1420-908X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00011-015-0814-0

Objective and design Carrageenan-induced paw edema has been described as a local and acute inflammatory process. In fact, little is known about the time course and systemic changes following a carrageenan injection. In this study, we examine the systemic changes that follow carrageenan injection in the paw. Methods Acute inflammation was produced by subplantar injection of carrageenan in a hind paw of Sprague–Dawley rats. Saline was used in control rats. Paw volume was measured with a plethysmometer. The hot plate latency test was used to quantify antinociception. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured with a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Fibrinogen concentration was measured using the gravimetric method. Lung morphometric analysis was performed using an image processing package. Lungs and paws were also examined for tissue factor (TF) and proinflammatory cytokines expression by immunohistochemistry. Results We found diverse systemic changes including increased levels of acute phase proteins, such as CRP and fibrinogen, and a lung inflammatory process characterized by lung edema, fibrin deposition, and leukocyte infiltration. An elevated expression of TF, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα, was observed in paw and lung tissue sections by immunohistochemical methods. Conclusion This study provides new evidence that a local carrageenan injection induces a systemic response.