Immunological approaches to the treatment of spinal cord injury

The innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, represented principally by macrophages and by T and B cells, respectively, provide body tissues with mechanisms of defence, protection and repair. In the central nervous system (CNS), probably because of its status of ‘immune privilege’, any immune activity has long been viewed as detrimental. Recent studies have provided evidence, however, that immune activity after traumatic CNS injury may have a beneficial effect, manifested by promotion of regeneration and reduction in the secondary degeneration of neurons that escaped direct injury. Rigorous regulation of immune system activity allows the individual to derive the benefit of such neuroprotection without the risk of detrimental side effects. Recently, our research group found a way to boost the T-cell—mediated autoimmune protection while avoiding the risk of autoimmune disease.