Cells, 2023 · DOI: 10.3390/cells12060853 · Published: March 9, 2023
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to permanent damage in the central nervous system, causing issues like axonal degeneration and scar formation. The glial scar forms to protect healthy tissue by isolating inflammation at the injury site. While the glial scar protects viable neural tissue, it also hinders regeneration. Therapeutic strategies focus on preventing scar formation, resolving the scar, transplanting cells, and reprogramming endogenous cells to promote regeneration after SCI. This review explores the cellular and molecular aspects of glial scar formation and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of different strategies aimed at promoting neural regeneration following spinal cord injury.
Hindering glial scar formation or decreasing the aggregation of astrocytes may reduce or remove this barrier to promote regeneration.
Transplantation of cells may be beneficial to supplement the neuronal number or recover native neurons in the injury site. Changing the local microenvironment may attenuate inhibition to allow for axonal regeneration.
Gene delivery has emerged as an effective approach to promote regeneration and reduce glial scar formation via endogenous cell reprogramming in the injured spinal cord.