Immunol Res, 2015 · DOI: 10.1007/s12026-015-8698-1 · Published: October 6, 2015
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) induces changes in the immune system, both acutely and chronically. The study examines immune system parameters, including peripheral immune cell populations, in individuals with chronic SCI as compared to uninjured individuals. The mechanisms that contribute to immune dysfunction in individuals with SCI are currently unclear and likely to be multifactorial. Some aspects of immune dysfunction, particularly the high susceptibility to infection, have been partially attributed to neurogenic bowel and bladder effects. This study characterized T cells and regulatory T cells in individuals with chronic SCI (C1 year from initial SCI) as compared to uninjured individuals, using current molecular definitions of T cell subsets.
Altered T cell subsets in chronic SCI may be relevant to infection susceptibility among this population.
The findings may relate to other manifestations of immunosuppression or immune system dysfunction observed in chronic SCI.
Additional studies are needed to evaluate the relevance of these findings to the general SCI population and investigate functional activities of altered T cell subsets.