Investigating Microglial Responses during Health and Brain Injury: A Focus on SHIP-1

Inflammation is an important component of our body’s defense, but excessive inflammation of the brain interferes with the healing process after brain injury in children and can cause progressive brain diseases in adults. To understand what determines the intensity of brain inflammation, this thesis focused on the function of two specific immune factors found in humans. Extensive examination of mice at various ages with and without brain injury concluded that one of these molecules is important in suppressing inflammation in the young adult brain. This finding uncovered a potential target to slow the progression of various brain diseases in humans.