Brain-Immune Interactions as the Basis of Gulf War Illness: Consortium Development
Abstract
A clearly defined biological mechanism for the chronic illness reported by Gulf War (GW) veterans has remained elusive. Nevertheless, recently defined brain-immune system relationships point to a possible role for neuroinflammation as an underlying feature of Gulf War illness (GWI). Glia are no longer viewed simply as support cells of the brain. They play active roles in neural function and repair (astrocytes) and serve as neuro-immune signaling cells (microglia). Glial cells that make myelin sheaths (oligodendrocytes), are considered the white matter (WM) of the brain. WM allows for fast transmission of information across neuronal synapses and altered white matter pathways can result in cognitive deficits. The recent studies showing lower white matter volumes in GW veterans exposed to pesticides and low-dose sarin, suggest that glial cells may indeed have an important role in the development and continued maintenance of health problems afflicting GW veterans. This consortium development grant provided funding to plan for a full consortium grant submission that was submitted by leading experts in GWI and neuroinflammation to work collaboratively in order to assess the potential role of these pathobiological mechanisms in GWI. This consortium grant was submitted and was recently recommended for funding to continue these research consortium plans and to test these hypotheses of GWI.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA579837
Entities
People
- Kimberly Sullivan
Organizations
- Boston University Medical Campus