Pilot Study: The Role of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) in Spinal Cord Injury

The purpose of the study is to investigate inflammatory and other substances that may be elevated in the blood and blood cells following spinal cord injury (SCI). These substances will be evaluated in samples from people who have had a spinal cord injury due to trauma (e.g. car accident or a fall) within the first week (acute) or at least one year ago (chronic). Specifically, the study will evaluate the presence and levels of a protein, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). MIF is released by cells and has a specific effect on the way cells behave, communicate and work together. In several other medical conditions, MIF is known to increase inflammation in the body. By comparing blood samples from individuals with spinal cord injury and uninjured (no spinal cord injury) individuals, the investigators will try to find out if MIF levels are increased in people with SCI. Investigators will also use these samples to measure other proteins that increase inflammation in the body and to see if the biological activities of MIF can be reduced in a test tube by adding other substances to the blood samples. It is hoped that this study of MIF and other proteins related to inflammation will help improve the treatment of SCI in the future. We hope to enroll a total of 312 subjects in this study (50 with acute spinal cord injury, 125 with chronic spinal cord injury, and 137 uninjured individuals).