Fig. 1

Tocilizumab ameliorates motor function recovery after SCI. A A schematic illustration of the Tocilizumab injection protocol after SCI. After the operation, Tocilizumab or PBS was intrathecally injected daily at the same time point until the day of sample collection. B The time course of functional recovery assessed by the BMS score in the sham, PBS, and Tocilizumab groups. C–F The results of the footprint analyses in the sham, PBS, and Tocilizumab groups at 28 dpi after SCI. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 8 in each group). **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 (Tocilizumab vs. PBS). ^#p < 0.05, ^###p < 0.001, ^####p < 0.0001 (Tocilizumab vs. sham). ^&&&&p < 0.0001 (PBS vs. sham). ns, no significance (Tocilizumab vs. PBS). G Representative images of HE staining in the sham group and at 28 dpi among the PBS and Tocilizumab groups. Asterisks indicate the injured epicenter. Scale bar: 200 μm. D, V, R, and C represent the dorsal, ventral, rostral, and caudal sides of the injury, respectively