The contribution of astrocytes and microglia to traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major cause of death and disability in developed countries. Brain injuries are highly heterogeneous and can also trigger other neurological complications, including epilepsy, depression and dementia. The initial injury often leads to the development of secondary sequelae; cellular hyperexcitability, vasogenic and cytotoxic oedema, hypoxia-ischaemia, oxidative stress and inflammation, all of which influence expansion of the primary lesion. It is widely known that inflammatory events in the brain following TBI contribute to the widespread cell death and chronic tissue degeneration. Neuroinflammation is a multifaceted response involving a number of cell..