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Altered leukocyte gene expression after traumatic spinal cord injury: clinical implications

In addition to changes in motor and sensory function, individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience immunological changes. These changes are clinically significant, as infections are the leading cause of death for this population. Along with increased infections, inflammation is commonly obse...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Herman, Paige E., Bloom, Ona
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6126132/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30127106
http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.237112
Descripción
Sumario:In addition to changes in motor and sensory function, individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience immunological changes. These changes are clinically significant, as infections are the leading cause of death for this population. Along with increased infections, inflammation is commonly observed in persons with SCI, where it may promote many common medical consequences. These include elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, impaired wound healing, diabetes and neuropathic pain. It has also been proposed that chronic inflammation dampens neurological recovery. In order to identify therapeutic strategies to improve immune function, we need a greater understanding of the molecular changes that occur in immune cells after SCI. The purpose of this mini-review is to discuss two recent studies that used functional genomics to investigate gene expression in circulating leukocytes isolated from persons with SCI. In the future, the molecular pathways that are altered after SCI may be targeted to improve immunological function, as well as overall health and functional recovery, after SCI.