Recent Literature Review from the Sîrbulescu Team: Intruders or protectors – the multifaceted role of B cells in CNS disorders

Under the guidance of Dr. Sîrbulescu, our team at VIC wrote an extensive literature review to integrate the expanding field of B cells and their immunological roles within the Central Nervous System (CNS). Throughout this process, we evaluated recent advancements in B cell-mediated immune interactions through the lens of chronic CNS diseases and acute CNS injury. From the early understanding of B cell infiltration and regulation to its role in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and now the advancing work of traumatic brain injury and stroke, we have found that B cells are involved in many aspects of CNS immunology and function. We hope that by consolidating the literature into a unified picture, researchers can identify relationships and patterns that could lead to more knowledge in the field. Ultimately, we believe that B cells are a key component of discovering cell-based therapeutics and treatments to tackle CNS-related conditions.
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Recent Publication in the Journal of Inflammation from Dr. Ruxandra Sîrbulescu

In a recent publication, Dr. Ruxandra Sîrbulescu and her team at VIC investigate the mechanisms that underlie the neuroprotective effects of a novel cell-based treatment that uses B cells to reduce the detrimental impact of inflammation after brain injury. The authors map the local cellular responses in the injured tissue along a 2-month timeline, and describe some of the key ways by which the applied therapeutic B cells communicate with and regulate the responses of inflammatory cells in their vicinity. The study indicates that B cells applied directly into the injured tissue regulate the actions of other immune cells, including monocytes and macrophages that infiltrate from the blood, resulting in less damage to the nervous tissue. The presence of therapeutically administered B cells also reduced the long-term activation of microglia, resident immune cells of the brain. Together, these findings support B cells as powerful regulatory cells with potential for further development as an effective cell therapy for treating traumatic brain injuries in the future.
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Congratulations to Dr. Ruxandra F. Sîrbulescu for her Promotion to Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School

Congratulations to Dr. Ruxandra F. Sîrbulescu, Principal Investigator at VIC, for her promotion to Assistant Professor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School! Dr. Sîrbulescu and her team at VIC focus on understanding mechanisms of neuroinflammation and cell-based immunomodulation in the context of acute and chronic brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. In a recent article published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, Dr. Sîrbulescu and her team investigate mechanisms of immunomodulation in the context of traumatic brain injury using local therapeutic application of B cells, and demonstrate that in the appropriate setting, these immune cells can act as powerful neuroprotective agents. Dr. Sîrbulescu’s innovative research has been recognized through multiple publications, media articles, patents, and distinctions, including the Dr. Melvin Field Innovation Award, and several Excellence in Innovation certificates from Partners Healthcare, as well as funding support from the National Institutes of Health.