Researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston have found limiting inflammation brought on by white blood cells following a head trauma could help decrease optic nerve damage and preserve cell function.
According to researchers, one of the protein receptors on white blood cells — CXCR3 — brings white blood cells to the optic nerve in response to production of its binding partner CXCL10 by damaged nerve tissue. When scientists removed CXCR3 or gave mice a drug blocking the receptors following optic nerve damage, they observed fewer white blood cells coming to the area, as well as decreased nerve damage and preserved nerve cell function compared to mice that had not received any intervention after injury.
Researchers believe their findings, and further studies, may help aid in the development of new interventions for diseases associated with nerve injury, such as traumatic optic neuropathy (TON), stroke, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
The research was recently published in The American Journal of Pathology.
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Source: The University of Texas Medical Branch