Microglia: A Potential Drug Target for Traumatic Axonal Injury

P108: Microglia in Traumatic Brain Injury

Microglia is one of the first innate immune components. These cells account about 5 to 10% of the entire adult brain cells and are activated by trauma. Complex-mediated inflammatory responses occur through cellular and molecular events during and after the traumatic brain injury (TBI). In-lesion area astrocytes, microglia, and damaged neurons begin to secrete cytokines and chemokines. Microglia...

A Potential Therapeutic Target in Traumatic Brain Injury

Microglia Activation as a Biomarker for Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become the signature wound of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Injury may result from a mechanical force, a rapid acceleration-deceleration movement, or a blast wave. A cascade of secondary cell death events ensues after the initial injury. In particular, multiple inflammatory responses accompany TBI. A series of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines spreads to nor...

Acute reduction of microglia does not alter axonal injury in a mouse model of repetitive concussive traumatic brain injury.

The pathological processes that lead to long-term consequences of multiple concussions are unclear. Primary mechanical damage to axons during concussion is likely to contribute to dysfunction. Secondary damage has been hypothesized to be induced or exacerbated by inflammation. The main inflammatory cells in the brain are microglia, a type of macrophage. This research sought to determine the con...

Traumatic Brain Injury, Microglia, and Beta Amyloid

Recently, there has been growing interest in the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). TBI and AD share many pathologic features including chronic inflammation and the accumulation of beta amyloid (Aβ). Data from both AD and TBI studies suggest that microglia play a central role in Aβ accumulation after TBI. This paper focuses on the current research on ...