Rudman MD, et al. - The role of bromodomain and extraterminal domain-containing proteins (BETs; Brd2, Brd3, Brd4, BrdT) in promoting inflammation in neural cells and the ability of the BET inhibitor JQ1 to decrease inflammation acutely after spinal cord injury (SCI) was investigated. Researchers assessed expression of BET mRNA in purified primary mouse macrophages, astrocytes, neurons, oligodendrocytes, and microglia, as well as in naïve, sham-injured, and contusion-injured mouse spinal cord. The effects of BET modulation after SCI was assessed by injecting the BET inhibitor JQ1 intraperitoneally (30?mg/kg, bidaily) 3?hours after spinal cord contusion in adult female C57BL/6 mice. By 3?days post-injury, BET inhibition significantly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and leukocyte recruitment to the injury site. Outcomes suggest that BETs regulate multiple key pro-inflammatory cytokines and can be pharmacologically inhibited to reduce inflammation acutely after SCI.