IVIg attenuates complement and improves spinal cord injury outcomes in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) elicits immediate neural cell death, axonal damage, and disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier, allowing circulating immune cells and blood proteins into the spinal parenchyma. The inflammatory response to SCI involves robust complement system activation, which contributes to secondary injury and impairs neurological recovery. This study aimed to determine whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), an FDA-approved treatment for inflammatory conditions, can scavenge complement activation products and improve recovery from contusive SCI.

Methods

We used functional testing, noninvasive imaging, and detailed postmortem analysis to assess whether IVIg therapy is effective in a mouse model of severe contusive SCI.

Results

IV

SUBMITTER: Brennan FH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4931715 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature