IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNCTION IN SCI – A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD
John R. Bethea, Ph.D. • Robert P. Yezierski, Ph.D. • Mark S. Nash, Ph.D.

The immune system protects the body, but in acute SCI, damage to the nervous system can trigger many immunological consequences, some of which are beneficial and others detrimental. For persons living with chronic SCI, compromised immune function creates the threat of urinary, skin or lung infections.

Dr. John Bethea and his colleagues are studying SCI from the cellular perspective, trying to understand what changes occur after injury, and to sort out which are damaging and which are beneficial. He, Dr. Robert Yezierski, and collaborators from the University of Minnesota examined the involvement of inflammatory molecules in the development of pain after chemically-induced SCI. They injected a naturally-occurring opiate into the spinal cord to create an injury. The anti-inflammatory drug, interleukin 10, protected the rats’ spinal cords from such damage to a significant extent, and prevented the development of the pain syndrome. Other chemicals that affect immunological reactions also reduced the damage. These results suggest that controlling the post-injury immune response directly could be an effective strategy against the development of pain after SCI.

Dr. Mark Nash conducts research on immune system function in persons with chronic SCI. He reviewed the complex cellular basis for the immune dysfunction experienced after SCI. Loss of control over the autonomic nervous system seems to be one problem, however, physical deconditioning, lifestyle choices such as diet, and the medications that can suppress immune function can also have significant effects. His review emphasizes the need for attention to the physical and behavioral causes of immune suppression to ensure that persons aging with SCI can reduce their risk of infections.