Spinal cord injury induces a long-lasting upregulation of interleukin-1β in astrocytes around the central canal

Highlights • Spinal cord injury induces an upregulation of IL-1β around the ependyma stronger than in the rest of the gray matter. • IL-1β is detectable at 24 h after injury, reaches maximum levels between 3 and 7 days and returns to low levels at 28 days. • Periependymal IL-1β is produced by reactive astrocytes and extends at least 5 mm rostral and 5 mm caudal from the epicenter. • IL-1β modulation could be a target to favor recruiting NSCs after spinal cord injury.