Neurons Get New Batteries

Injured brain cells, neurons, can have damage to the energy producing component to the cell – the mitochondria. These essential parts of any cell are needed for a cell’s very survival. Now researchers have discovered that one of the brain’s immune cells, called an astrocyte, actually donates its own mitochondria to the wounded cell. The cell signals “help me” and the signal is picked up by an enzyme called CD38. Efforts are underway to see if CD38 itself can aid recovery in TBI and mouse data seems to say “yes,” as mice with CD38 faired twice as well post TBI. (Lo E. 2016)