Early treatment with dapsone after spinal cord injury in rats decreases the inflammatory response and promotes long-term functional recovery

Heliyon, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14687 · Published: March 20, 2023

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to irreversible damage affecting various bodily functions, and current treatments are limited. This study explores dapsone (DDS), a drug with anti-inflammatory properties, as a potential treatment for SCI. The research investigates how DDS impacts the inflammatory response and promotes functional recovery in rats after SCI. It focuses on both the acute phase (early stages after injury) and the long-term effects of DDS treatment. The study found that early treatment with DDS reduces inflammation and improves motor function recovery in rats with SCI. These findings suggest DDS could be a promising therapeutic option for managing SCI and improving patient outcomes.

Study Duration

8 weeks

Participants

Female Wistar rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
DDS decreases GRO/KC plasma levels after moderate SCI. By 6 h after SCI, all doses of DDS had decreased GRO/KC plasma levels.
2
DDS decreases the number of double-labeled infiltrated neutrophils at the site of contusion, as estimated by flow cytometry. By 24 h post injury at doses of 25 and 37.5 mg/kg they had blocked neutrophil infiltration at the epicenter
3
Long-term DDS treatment improves hindlimb motor function after moderate SCI. Functional recovery of animals receiving 12.5 mg/kg DDS daily for 2 months starting 3 h after SCI was 57.5% and by doubling the dosage of DDS to 25 mg/kg functional recovery reached 106.2%, when compared to vehicle-treated controls.

Research Summary

This study investigates the impact of dapsone (DDS) on inflammatory responses and functional recovery in rats following spinal cord injury (SCI). The research focuses on both acute and long-term effects of DDS treatment, examining its potential as a neuroprotective agent. The key findings indicate that DDS reduces GRO/KC plasma levels and neutrophil infiltration at the injury site, highlighting its anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, long-term DDS treatment significantly improves hindlimb motor function in rats with moderate SCI. The study concludes that early DDS treatment can promote functional recovery after SCI by regulating inflammatory reactions, suggesting it as a promising therapeutic strategy for SCI management and improved patient outcomes.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

Dapsone could be a viable therapeutic option for managing spinal cord injury and improving patient outcomes, especially when administered early after the injury.

Inflammation Management

Dapsone's ability to regulate inflammatory reactions, specifically by lowering GRO/KC plasma levels and neutrophil counts, underscores the importance of inflammation management in SCI treatment.

Dosage Considerations

The study highlights the importance of dosage, as higher doses of DDS (25 mg/kg) resulted in greater functional recovery compared to lower doses (12.5 mg/kg).

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on female Wistar rats, limiting generalizability to other populations.
2
The study focuses primarily on the acute phase of SCI, with less emphasis on chronic effects beyond the treatment period.
3
Further research is needed to determine the optimal DDS dosage and treatment scheme for a more controlled neutrophil/macrophage-M2 inflammatory response.

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