Effects of infliximab against carbon tetrachloride-induced spleen toxicity in rats

I. Bahcecı, L. Tumkaya, T. Mercantepe, H. Yılmaz, Y.E. Ibık, O.F. Duran, N. Arslan

Department of Medical Microbiology, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey. bahceciie@hotmail.com

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• Immunology
• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a non-polar molecule used in industry in grain curing, insect-killing and especially in the production of chlorofluorocarbons. It is estimated that an average of 70,000 industry workers in Europe are exposed to this toxic compound.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups: control group (saline only, Group I), infliximab (INF) group (Group II), CCl4 group (Group III) and CCl4+INF group (Group IV).

RESULTS: While there was an increase in the numerical density of CD3, CD68, and CD200R positive T lymphocytes and macrophages in the CCl4 administration group (p=0.000), this was not the case in the CCl4+INF administration group (p=0.000).

CONCLUSIONS: TNF-α inhibitors have a protective effect against CCl4-induced spleen toxicity/inflammation as seen by the reduction in CD3, CD68, CD200R positive T lymphocytes and macrophages.

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