NEW YORK (Dispatches) -- University of Virginia School of Medicine reports that
researchers have discovered a previously unknown repair process in the brain that they hope could be harnessed and enhanced to treat seizure-related brain injuries.
The researchers used high-powered imaging and were able to see, for the first time, that immune cells called microglia were not just removing damaged material after experimental seizures but actually appeared to be healing damaged neurons.
The new insights into the brain’s immune response points scientists in promising new directions. “Although these findings are exciting, there is yet a lot to follow-up on them. For example, the precise mechanisms that regulate the interactions remain to be identified. Moreover, at present, the ‘healing’ feature is suggested from correlational results and more definitive studies are required to certify the nature of the ‘healing,’” Eyo said. “If these questions can be answered, they will provide a rationale for developing approaches to enhance this process ... in seizure contexts.”
Common seizure-preventing drugs do not work for approximately a third of epilepsy patients, so new and better treatments for such brain injuries are much needed. University of Virginia Health System’s discovery identifies a potential avenue, one inspired by the brain’s natural immune response.