Advances in molecular therapies for targeting pathophysiology in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects many people worldwide and currently lacks a cure. The initial injury damages the spinal cord, and secondary mechanisms like ischemia and inflammation worsen the damage. Researchers are designing therapies targeting the cellular and molecular issues of SCI. Some promising strategies involve neuroprotective reagents, targeting specific genes to promote axon regeneration, targeting epigenetic factors to enhance cell survival and neural repair, and facilitating neuronal relay pathways and neuroplasticity. This review focuses on recent preclinical molecular therapies for SCI. Recent progress in repairing strategies for SCI is encouraging, but challenges remain, including developing effective neuroprotectants, stimulating neuronal regeneration and neuroplasticity, maximizing recovery with combination strategies, and translating therapies into human use.

• 1
  Numerous strategies are being explored to reduce secondary injuries after SCI by targeting mechanisms like excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death.
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  Several genes, including Lin28, LKB1, and Huntingtin, are being targeted to enhance the intrinsic growth capacity of mature neurons and promote axon regeneration after SCI.
• 3
  Epigenetic regulators, miRNAs, and long RNAs are being explored as molecular targets for repairing the injured spinal cord by modulating cell survival and neuronal growth.