Inflammation and immunomodulation in central nervous system injury – B cells as a novel therapeutic opportunity

Acute injury to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a complex and challenging clinical need. CNS injury initiates a dynamic neuroinflammatory response, mediated by both resident and infiltrating immune cells. Following the primary injury, dysregulated inflammatory cascades have been implicated in sustaining a pro-inflammatory microenvironment, driving secondary neurodegeneration and the development of lasting neurological dysfunction. Due to the multifaceted nature of CNS injury, clinically effective therapies for conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and stroke have proven challenging to develop. No therapeutics that adequately address the chronic inflammatory component of secondary CNS injury are currently available. Recently, B lymphocytes have gained increasing appreciation for their role in maintaining immune homeostasis and regulating inflammatory responses in the context of tissue injury. Here we review the neuroinflammatory response to CNS injury with particular focus on the underexplored role of B cells and summarize recent results on the use of purified B lymphocytes as a novel immunomodulatory therapeutic for tissue injury, particularly in the CNS.