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Published in: Journal of Neuroinflammation 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Short report

Thalamic inflammation after brain trauma is associated with thalamo-cortical white matter damage

Authors: Gregory Scott, Peter J. Hellyer, Anil F. Ramlackhansingh, David J. Brooks, Paul M. Matthews, David J. Sharp

Published in: Journal of Neuroinflammation | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Traumatic brain injury can trigger chronic neuroinflammation, which may predispose to neurodegeneration. Animal models and human pathological studies demonstrate persistent inflammation in the thalamus associated with axonal injury, but this relationship has never been shown in vivo.

Findings

Using [11C]-PK11195 positron emission tomography, a marker of microglial activation, we previously demonstrated thalamic inflammation up to 17 years after traumatic brain injury. Here, we use diffusion MRI to estimate axonal injury and show that thalamic inflammation is correlated with thalamo-cortical tract damage.

Conclusions

These findings support a link between axonal damage and persistent inflammation after brain injury.
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Metadata
Title
Thalamic inflammation after brain trauma is associated with thalamo-cortical white matter damage
Authors
Gregory Scott
Peter J. Hellyer
Anil F. Ramlackhansingh
David J. Brooks
Paul M. Matthews
David J. Sharp
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Neuroinflammation / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1742-2094
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-015-0445-y

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