Expression of IL-6 in the ischemic penumbra

We examined the expression of IL-6 within the ischemic penumbra at various time points after transient (3 h) middle cerebral occlusion (MCA-O) in rats. The animals were killed at 1, 3, 7 or 14 days following operation. Coronal brain sections were processed for immunohistochemistry with antibodies against GFAP, OX 42, IL-6 and Nissl-staining. Glial activation within the penumbra started on day one after ischemia and persisted up to day 14. Expression of IL-6 was not present in sham-operated controls. One day after MCA-O there were several IL-6-positive cells in the penumbra. This expression of IL-6 increased on day 3 and remained elevated up to day 14. According to the shape of the IL-6-positive cells they seem to be microglia and neurons. The present results demonstrate a longlasting expression of IL-6 in the ischemic penumbra.