Neural Regeneration Research, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.363184 · Published: December 21, 2022
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can lead to significant disability, and a key factor in the damage is excessive inflammation caused by immune cells accumulating at the injury site. These cells release chemicals called chemokines that attract more immune cells, worsening the inflammation. This study focuses on how a protein called macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) influences the production of a specific chemokine, CCL2, by astrocytes (a type of brain cell) after SCI. The researchers found that MIF promotes CCL2 production by astrocytes, which in turn recruits more immune cells to the injury site. By blocking MIF, the researchers were able to reduce CCL2 production, decrease immune cell accumulation, and improve the recovery of motor function in rats with SCI, suggesting that targeting MIF could be a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce inflammation and improve outcomes after SCI.
MIF could be a therapeutic target for reducing inflammation and improving outcomes after spinal cord injury.
Development of drugs targeting MIF or its downstream signaling pathways could provide novel treatments for SCI.
The findings provide insights into the role of astrocyte-activated chemokines in leukocyte recruitment, which may be beneficial in developing interventions targeting CCL2 for neuroinflammation after SCI.