Researchers have just announced discovering a new type of white blood cells (leukocytes) that can save dying/degenerated nerve cells and reverse damaged nerve fibers in patients with head injuries or spinal cord damage. A type of cell that previously was thought only to help fight infection also promotes nerve regrowth and neural regeneration.
5 Types of white blood cells (leukocytes):
- Monocytes usually have a much longer lifespan than other white blood cells and are responsible for breaking down bacteria
- Lymphocytes include B cells, which make antibodies, and T cells and natural killer cells, which attack infected or abnormal cells, to help the immune system fight viruses, bacteria, and other harmful invaders
- Eosinophils are white blood cells that help fight parasites and take part in allergic reactions. A high Eosinophils count might indicate an allergic reaction, parasitic infection, or cancer
- Neutrophils are responsible for killing and digest fungi & bacteria
- Basophils are white blood cells that circulate in the blood and release histamine and other substances during allergic and inflammatory reactions.
The granulocytes used in the study were found to be similar to that of immature neutrophils.[1] These cells’ therapeutic power was tested by injecting them near damaged nerve bundles and directly into injured optic nerves. The results showed that the experimental group showed evidence of regrown nerve fibers and astrocyte activity while those injected with mature neutrophils did not improve. In these animal experiments, this subset of neutrophils released growth factors that helped nerve cells survive after injury to the (CNS) central nervous system. The findings are promising, but it is not yet known whether this approach could restore function in people.
The next step in this promising discovery is to collect more isolated (neuro-enhancing) granulocytes and culture them in the lab for therapeutic dosages. These immunotherapies are already being used as a safe type of cancer treatment to manipulate chemokines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and other immune-related genes. Besides the ability to reverse genetic conditions, these breakthrough therapies are also being tested for treating traumatic injuries immediately following an accident.
The study of immunotherapies for brain diseases is a prevalent one in modern neurological research. 
Around 2019 and 2020, researchers at Stanford University also described subsets of CD8 T-cells that may help control the immune attack in a mouse model of MS; this work has not yet led to a treatment for people. Patients who have neurological deficits have to deal with debilitating symptoms every day. The possibility of helping those patients reverse these deficits and improving the quality of life is fascinating. The findings are very new, and much research never gets translated to the clinical environment. However, such findings offer vast potential for medical advancements in this decade.
The goal for using granulocyte neutrophil growth factors could play a vital role in helping those suffering from brain strokes, cervical spine cord injuries, degenerative neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, ALS, MND, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injuries.
In the future, neuroimmunology research will lead to the development of new novel cellular-based therapies that can be used safely to restore lost neurological functions for a wide range of conditions.[2]
Published Clinical Citations
[1] ^ Sas, A.R., Carbajal, K.S., Jerome, A.D. et al. A new neutrophil subset promotes CNS neuron survival and axon regeneration. Nat Immunol 21, 1496–1505 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-020-00813-0 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-020-00813-0
[2] ^ Segal BM. CNS chemokines, cytokines, and dendritic cells in autoimmune demyelination. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2005 Feb;228(2):210-214. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2004.10.014.. https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(04)00411-3/fulltext
