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Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi
2022 , Vol 28 , Issue 1
Effect of Tocilizumab on Acinetobacter baumannii Lung Infection in an Immunosuppressed Rat Model
1Atatürk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Microbiology, TR-25100 Erzurum - TÜRKİYE2Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, TR-25100 Erzurum - TÜRKİYE
3Atatürk University, Clinical Research, Development and Design Application and Research Center, TR-25100 Erzurum - TÜRKİYE
4Atatürk University, Regional Education and Research Hospital, Department of Microbiology, TR-25100 Erzurum - TÜRKİYE
5Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, TR-25100 Erzurum - TÜRKİYE
6Kastamonu University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, TR-37100 Kastamonu - TÜRKİYE
7Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Community, TR-25100 Erzurum - TÜRKİYE
8Atatürk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, TR-25100 Erzurum - TÜRKİYE DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2021.26491 Our study aimed to investigate effect of tocilizumab on the lung tissue in the presence of Acinetobacter baumannii infection in immunosuppressed rats. A forty-eight female Wistar albino rats were divided equally into eight groups: Group 1: Healthy (H), Group 2: Immunosuppressed (IM), Group 3: Healthy rats given A. baumannii bacteria (H+BAC), Group 4: Immunosuppressed rats given A. baumannii bacteria (IM+BAC), Group 5: Healthy rats given tocilizumab (H+TCZ), Group 6: Immunosuppressed rats given tocilizumab (IM+TCZ), Group 7: Healthy rats given A. baumannii bacteria and tocilizumab (H+BAC+TCZ), Group 8: Immunosuppressed rats given tocilizumab and A. baumannii bacteria (IM+BAC+TCZ). Fourteen days after the immunosuppression of group 2, 4, 6 and 8 with hydrocortisone, group 3, 4, 7 and 8 were A. baumannii was dropped into the trachea. One hour after A. baumannii application, TCZ was administered to Groups 5, 6, 7 and 8. NF-κB, IL-6 and NLRP3 mRNA expressions were decreased in the IM group compared to the healthy group (P<0.05). Although NF-κB, IL-6 and NLRP3 mRNA expression decreased in the IM+TCZ group compared to the healthy group (P<0.05) NF-κB, IL-6 and NLRP3 mRNA expression increased in the H+TCZ group (P<0.05). Despite decreasing cytokines, A. baumannii has been shown to increase infection-related lung injury. This suggests that in patients currently or recently using steroids, tocilizumab may increase organ damage due to opportunistic infection. Keywords : Acinetobacter baumannii, Tocilizumab, Immunosuppressed rat