Protective Immune Response to Spinal Cord Injury Found

Researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine recently discovered a protective form of immune response to spinal cord injury — and were able to pinpoint the biological trigger for that response — a vital step toward harnessing the body’s defenses to improve treatment for spine injuries, brain trauma, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The results of the study showed that the trigger for the immune response is the molecule interleukin-33, and is concentrated in the white matter in a healthy brain and spinal cord. Interleukin-33, the researchers discovered, is released upon injury and activates glia cells, beginning the body’s protective response and promoting recovery. “It’s the first thing that tells the immune system that something’s been damaged,” explained the lead researcher. “It’s how the immune system initially knows to respond.” Researchers aren’t sure if interleukin-33 plays any other roles in addition to injury response. To read more about this study, click here.