Objective: Pregabalin (PGB) is a compound used in the treatment of epilepsy, anxiety, and neuropathic pain. Experimental data also indicate that PGB can reduce inflammatory pain. We aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of PGB on carrageenan (CAR)-induced paw edema and its effects on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukine-1β (IL-1β) acting as acute phase cytokines in inflammation, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, in rats.
Materials and methods: Single doses of PGB 30, 50, and 100 mg/kg and indomethacin (INDO) 5 mg/kg in the treatment groups and saline in the control group were injected once intraperitoneally prior to administration of 100 μl of 1% CAR into the right hind paw of the rats. The paw thickness was measured using gauge calipers (Vernier calipers) before (0 hour) and every hour afterwards for 6 hours following the inflammation induction. The cytokine levels in the blood serum obtained intracardiacally were determined after 6 hours using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: There was no significant difference between the 0 and 6th hour considering the paw thickness in all groups, except in the CAR group. CAR significantly increased the paw thickness at 6 hours compared to the 0 hour. All doses of PGB and INDO significantly reduced the paw thickness after 6 hours compared to the CAR group. The TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the PGB and INDO groups were comparable to the control group, whereas in the CAR group, these levels were increased. The IL-10 level was enhanced in the PGB 50 mg/kg and INDO groups.
Conclusion: It was observed that all doses of PGB exerted anti-inflammatory-like effects comparable to INDO, supported by their effects on the levels of cytokines.
Keywords: Pregabalin; anti-inflammatory effect; cytokines; inflammation; rat.