Investigating the neuroprotective potential of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) after soman exposure

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"MRC DTP : Ioana - Emilia Mosneag : MR/N013751/1"Organophosphorus compounds (organophosphates) cause numerous deaths globally due to pesticide poisoning or due to their alternative use as chemical weapons. Potent organophosphates, such as soman, are highly toxic inducing paralysis, seizures, respiratory failure and death. Exposure to sub-lethal soman doses results in immediate convulsive seizures, leading to decreased blood flow in the brain and the death of brain cells. Increases in interleukin-1 (IL-1), a protein that causes inflammation, are seen in the brain after soman exposure, which may contribute to cell death. Previous studies that used rodents genetically modified to stop IL-1 from working show reduced death of brain cells after soman exposure while enhancing the effects of IL-1 worsened the cell death. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a drug that blocks the effects of IL-1 and this project will investigate changes in cell death and blood flow in the brain after IL-1Ra treatment post soman exposure in rodents. The postulated outcome is the use of IL-1Ra in situations of organophosphate poisoning, which could benefit farmers, soldiers and civilians.