Absence of IL-1β positively affects neurological outcome, lesion development and axonal plasticity after spinal cord injury

This study investigates the role of IL-1β, a protein involved in inflammation, after spinal cord injury in mice. Contrary to what was expected based on earlier lab experiments, the researchers found that IL-1β actually worsens the damage and hinders recovery after spinal cord injury. Mice lacking IL-1β showed better recovery, smaller lesions, and increased nerve fiber growth, suggesting that blocking IL-1β could be a potential treatment strategy.

• 1
  Local application of recombinant IL-1β worsened the neurological outcome after SCI in mice.
• 2
  Absence of IL-1β in IL-1βKO mice significantly improved recovery from SCI compared with wildtype mice.
• 3
  IL-1βKO mice exhibited a smaller lesion size, reduced astrogliosis, and increased corticospinal tract fibers caudal to the lesion.