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Posted on Dec 27, 2003, 9 a.m.
By Bill Freeman
Research in mice suggests that it may be possible to lessen the damage caused by spinal cord injury by blocking a specific immune response. After spinal cord injury cells called CXCL-10 cells instruct immune system cells called T-cells to migrate to the damaged tissues. In normal circumstances T-cells protect the body from viruses and other pathogens, however research has shown that when T-cells move to a spinal cord injury site they release compounds that cause more damage to the tissue.
Research in mice suggests that it may be possible to lessen the damage caused by spinal cord injury by blocking a specific immune response. After spinal cord injury cells called CXCL-10 cells instruct immune system cells called T-cells to migrate to the damaged tissues. In normal circumstances T-cells protect the body from viruses and other pathogens, however research has shown that when T-cells move to a spinal cord injury site they release compounds that cause more damage to the tissue. This damage is known as secondary damage and is "the main contributor" to functional impairment. Dr Hans S Keirstead and colleagues at the University of California Irvine treated spine-injured mice with an antibody engineered to block CXCL-10. Results showed that mice treated with the antibody exhibited significantly less tissue damage around the injury site than untreated mice. Furthermore, in the days after the injury, the treated mice made progressive improvements in mobility. Keirstead is now planning clinical trials of the treatment to see if the antibody will work in a similar way in humans.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Experimental Neurology 2003;184:456-463.
