Neuro-inflammation following Human Traumatic Brain Injury

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Head injury is an important health issue as it is the commonest cause of death in those aged under 40 years in the developed world. The treatments that are used in patients with severe head injury are largely supportive. Studies in animals have shown us that inflammation in the brain after it is injured can make the injury worse. This study will look at the levels of inflammatory molecules, called cytokines, in the brain and see if blocking these molecules‘ action reduces the damage to nerve cells.The study will be carried out in the Division of Neurosurgery in the University of Cambridge. We will use a monitoring technique called microdialysis to enable us to measure the levels of cytokines in the brains of patients with severe head injuries. We will go on to see if the levels of these cytokines are associated with activation of inflammatory cells within the brain called microglia. We will also test to see whether these cytokines are toxic to human nerve cells (neurons) when these cells are grown outside the body.