title: Characterization of the Antibody Response after Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.
abstract: The immune system plays a critical and complex role in the pathobiology of spinal cord injury (SCI), exerting both beneficial and detrimental effects. Increasing evidence suggests that there are injury level-dependent differences in the immune response to SCI. Patients with traumatic SCI have elevated levels of circulating autoantibodies against components of the central nervous system, but the role of these antibodies in SCI outcomes remains unknown. In rodent models of mid-thoracic SCI, antibody-mediated autoimmunity appears to be detrimental to recovery. However, whether autoantibodies against the spinal cord are generated following cervical SCI (cSCI), the most common level of injury in humans, remains undetermined. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the antibody responses following cSCI in a rat model of injury. We found increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies in the spinal cord in the subacute phase of injury (2 weeks), but not in more chronic phases (10 and 20 weeks). At 2 weeks post-cSCI, antibodies were detected at the injury epicenter and co-localized with the astroglial scar and neurons of the ventral horn. These increased levels of antibodies corresponded with enhanced activation of immune responses in the spleen. Higher counts of antibody-secreting cells were observed in the spleen of injured rats. Further, increased levels of secreted IgG antibodies and enhanced proliferation of T-cells in splenocyte cultures from injured rats were found. These findings suggest the potential development of autoantibody responses following cSCI in the rat. The impact of the post-traumatic antibody responses on functional outcomes of cSCI is a critical topic that requires further investigation.
authors: 1 Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, University Health Network , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|2 Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Antigona
authors: A
authors: Ulndreaj
authors: 1 Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, University Health Network , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Apostolia
authors: A
authors: Tzekou
authors: 1 Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, University Health Network , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Andrea J
authors: AJ
authors: Mothe
authors: 1 Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, University Health Network , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Ahad M
authors: AM
authors: Siddiqui
authors: 1 Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, University Health Network , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|2 Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Dragas
authors: 1 Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, University Health Network , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|2 Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|3 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|4 University of Toronto Spine Program, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Charles H
authors: CH
authors: Tator
authors: 5 Department of Laboratory Hematology, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Emina E
authors: EE
authors: Torlakovic
authors: 1 Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, University Health Network , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|2 Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|3 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|4 University of Toronto Spine Program, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Michael G
authors: MG
authors: Fehlings
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D066193:Cervical Cord / Q000293:injuries*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies
keywords: IgG/IgM immunoglobulins; antibody-secreting cells (ASCs); astrocytes; autoantibodies; cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI)