Objective: To investigate the expression of caspase-1 in different posttraumatic intervals and severity of brain injury.
Methods: The study examined brain tissue samples of slight (n = 24), severe (n = 24) brain injury and control (n = 6) of rat, using immunohistochemical staining, western-blot and RT-PCR method.
Results: Up-regulating of caspase-1 expression was found in tissue from traumatic brain injury compared with controls in early 1 hour after TBI, and lasted for 2 weeks. Caspase-1 cleaved after brain injury.
Conclusion: These findings are the first time to demonstrate the study of different intense brain injury. The increasing of caspase-1 expression indicates that the TBI exists. The threshold area of caspase-1 positive cells is different in different severity of brain injury.