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Tranexamic acid modulates the cellular immune profile after traumatic brain injury in mice without hyperfibrinolysis
Author(s) -
Draxler Dominik F.,
Daglas Maria,
Fernando Anushka,
Hanafi Gryselda,
McCutcheon Fiona,
Ho Heidi,
Galle Adam,
Gregory Julia,
Larsson Pia,
Keragala Charithani,
Wright David K.,
Tavancheh Elnaz,
Au Amanda E.,
Niego Be'eri,
Wilson Kirsty,
Plebanski Magdalena,
Sashindranath Maithili,
Medcalf Robert L.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.947
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 1538-7836
pISSN - 1538-7933
DOI - 10.1111/jth.14603
Subject(s) - hyperfibrinolysis , immunology , medicine , plasmin , tranexamic acid , immune system , traumatic brain injury , fibrinolysis , biology , biochemistry , blood loss , surgery , psychiatry , enzyme
Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to promote immunosuppression, making patients more susceptible to infection, yet potentially exerting protective effects by inhibiting central nervous system (CNS) reactivity. Plasmin, the effector protease of the fibrinolytic system, is now recognized for its involvement in modulating immune function. Objective To evaluate the effects of plasmin and tranexamic acid (TXA) on the immune response in wild‐type and plasminogen‐deficient (plg −/− ) mice subjected to TBI. Methods Leukocyte subsets in lymph nodes and the brain in mice post TBI were evaluated by flow cytometry and in blood with a hemocytometer. Immune responsiveness to CNS antigens was determined by Enzyme‐linked Immunosorbent Spot (ELISpot) assay. Fibrinolysis was determined by thromboelastography and measuring D‐dimer and plasmin‐antiplasmin complex levels. Results Plg −/− mice, but not plg +/+ mice displayed increases in both the number and activation of various antigen‐presenting cells and T cells in the cLN 1 week post TBI. Wild‐type mice treated with TXA also displayed increased cellularity of the cLN 1 week post TBI together with increases in innate and adaptive immune cells. These changes occurred despite the absence of systemic hyperfibrinolysis or coagulopathy in this model of TBI. Importantly, neither plg deficiency nor TXA treatment enhanced the autoreactivity within the CNS. Conclusion In the absence of systemic hyperfibrinolysis, plasmin deficiency or blockade with TXA increases migration and proliferation of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and various antigen‐presenting cells and T cells in the draining cervical lymph node (cLN) post TBI. Tranexamic acid might also be clinically beneficial in modulating the inflammatory and immune response after TBI, but without promoting CNS autoreactivity.