Research Projects
Neurology
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Immune response in stroke
Clinical problem
Every year in Australia there are 40,000 to 50,000 strokes leading to brain injury. It is the second most common cause of death and the major cause of disability in Australian adults. After the acute stage of ischaemic stroke there is usually some early clinical recovery. Later this is followed by further recovery involving neuronal growth factors usually only found in the brain during development. It is expected that enhancement of this process would assist recovery.The study
The hypothesis to be tested is that there are increased numbers of activated T-cells (special class of white blood cells involved in the immune response) after stroke, and that these react with brain antigens to produce the growth factors that aid late recovery.
Thus the aim of the study is to confirm the group’s preliminary finding that there is an increase in activated T- cells following stroke. They will also determine whether the T-cells found in stroke patients produce the growth factors that could aid brain repair. Finally, if the results are positive, they wish to collect DNA from stroke patients for whom they have both clinical outcome and immunological data in order to investigate genes related to the protective immune response.Ultimate aim
In the long term, this study has the potential to lead to new therapeutic strategies for stroke.
Researchers
Dr Pamela McCombe
Dr S Read
Dr JM Greer
Dr Noel Saines
Project partners
The University of Queensland
