# Role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-23 in secondary damage after spinal cord injury

> **NIH VA I01** · CLEMENT J. ZABLOCKI VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · —

## Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate and modulate the inflammatory response after spinal cord
injury (SCI), in order to minimize tissue damage and to promote an environment that is permissive for healing
and repair. SCI is a significant problem in both civilian and military populations, and any strategies that facilitate
improvement in these terrible injuries can have far-reaching effects on quality and quantity of life for those
patients and families affected.
 We propose to assess the role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-23 after SCI and the effects
of absence or inhibition of IL-12 and IL-23 in reducing tissue damage and promoting functional recovery. The
primary tissue damage after SCI occurs from the trauma itself, and secondary damage is caused by subsequent
events, including but not limited to hemorrhage, inflammation, edema, lipid peroxidation and excitotoxicity.
Secondary damage contributes significantly to the pathology and thereby to the severity of the functional
deficits. Inflammation after SCI is exacerbated and prolonged. Activated microglia and blood-derived
macrophages are among the main immune cell types in the injured tissue after SCI. Red blood cells (RBCs)
are present at the site of SCI due to trauma-induced hemorrhage and macrophages that phagocytose RBCs
acquire a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Il12b, which is coding for the shared p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23, is
strongly upregulated by RBC phagocytosis. Both IL-12 and IL-23 are master regulators of the adaptive and
innate immune system which are expressed by a variety of cell types, and initiate and maintain immune
responses in an autocrine or paracrine manner by inducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and
regulating inflammatory cell responses. They may therefore be a critical target in post-SCI inflammation. Our
preliminary data show an upregulation of IL-12p40 in spinal cord tissue after SCI and better recovery in IL-
12p40 deficient mice.
 We therefore propose three aims to study the role of IL-12 and IL-23 after SCI: (1) We propose to
characterize the expression of IL-12 and IL-23 and their receptors after SCI in mice at the mRNA and protein
level and to identify the cell types that express IL-12, IL-23 and their receptors. We will use early MRI
measurement to quantify hemorrhage, confirm this by measuring hemoglobin in the tissue, and correlate
hemorrhage with IL-12 and IL-23 expression levels. (2) We propose to assess the functional role of IL-12 and
IL-23 after SCI by comparing IL-12p40, IL-23p19 and IL-12RB2 knockout mice to wild type controls. Using these
knockout mice will allow us to distinguish differences between IL-12 and IL-23 effects. (3) We will use post-SCI
treatment with an IL-12/IL-23 small molecule inhibitor and an IL-12p40 neutralizing antibody. Experiments will
be done using the contusion injury model (IH Impactor device) with a moderate contusion injury and the effects
of absence or inhibition of IL-12 and...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10427136
- **Project number:** 5I01BX004039-04
- **Recipient organization:** CLEMENT J. ZABLOCKI VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Karin Swartz
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10427136

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10427136, Role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-23 in secondary damage after spinal cord injury (5I01BX004039-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10427136. Licensed CC0.

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