Multiplex Analysis of the Activation of the Immune System after Transection of the Rat’ s Sciatic Nerve Galina Masgutova 1 & Ekaterina Martynova 1 & Ruslan Masgutov 1,2 & Liliya Mukhametova 1 & Adelya Mullakhmetova 1 & Gulnaz Kadyrova 1 & Svetlana Khaiboullina 1,3 & Albert Rizvanov 1 # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016 Abstract In this study, using the model of sciatic nerve transection in rats, the cytokine profile of peripheral blood serum and rat sciatic nerve fragments was measured 3, 7 and 14 days after the injury. Histological analysis of sciatic nerve longitudinal sections was carried out at the same periods of time. The cytokine profile of peripheral blood serum of an intact rat as well as the cytokine profile of an intact homoge- nized sciatic nerve of a rat was examined. Comparative study of changes in quantitative measures before and after the injury was carried out. It was shown that in peripheral blood serum after the sciatic nerve transection, there was a change in quantitative measures of IL1a, Leptin, IL6, MCP1, and MIP2. In the samples of the rat sciatic nerve, the changes were found in the levels of EGF, Fractalkine, GCSF, IFNg, IL10, IL17A, IL18, IL2, IL6, IP10, Leptin, LIX, MCP1, MIP1a, MIP2, and RANTES. Keywords Sciatic nerve injury . Cytokines . Rats . Multiplex 1 Introduction The immune system is the main defense mechanism giving protection from foreign substances and producing various cells and molecules that can identify and eliminate extraneous agents. Immune system activation is a natural response of the body to pathologic processes in the nervous system. Cytokines take part in every component of the immune system and are a group of polypeptide mediators participating in the development of body defensive reactions [1]. Pain that appears after an injury induces the expression of proinflam- matory cytokines and is by its nature similar to neuropathic pain [2]. Pain caused by immune system activation in re- sponse to the tissue injury has defensive nature and promotes healing [3]. Pathogenesis of the peripheral nerve traumatic injury has been studied comprehensively, but there is little information available concerning the response of cytokines of the peripheral blood serum and, moreover, the response of sciatic nerve cytokines at the various periods after its injury. It is known that in case of peripheral nerve injury, the local inflammatory response is combined with the inflammation not only in the injured nerve but also retrogradely both in the spinal ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord. In the spinal ganglia, L4–L6 reactive changes in the morphology of sensory neurons are found already 2 h after the injury and they continue to increase [4]. In spite of the complexity of the pathophysiological process taking place in the injured nervous tissue, it is clear that neuropathic pain is associated with * Galina Masgutova galina2526@gmail.com Ekaterina Martynova ignietferro.venivedivici@gmail.com Ruslan Masgutov masgut@gmail.com Liliya Mukhametova vixen_133@mail.ru Adelya Mullakhmetova mullahmetovaadela@gmail.com Gulnaz Kadyrova angel199601@inbox.ru Albert Rizvanov rizvanov@gmail.com 1 Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation 2 Republic Clinical Hospital, Kazan, Russian Federation 3 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA BioNanoSci. DOI 10.1007/s12668-016-0332-8