Fibronectin EDA forms the chronic fibrotic scar after contusive spinal cord injury

After a spinal cord injury (SCI), scar tissue forms which can prevent nerves from regenerating. This scar contains proteins like fibronectin. This study looks at a specific form of fibronectin, called FnEDA. The study found that mice without FnEDA had less long-term scar tissue and better recovery after SCI. This suggests FnEDA contributes to the long-term scar formation that inhibits recovery. The research suggests targeting FnEDA could be a new way to help people recover from spinal cord injuries by reducing the scar tissue that blocks nerve regeneration.

• 1
  Eliminating FnEDA did not reduce the acute fibrotic response but markedly diminished chronic fibrotic scarring after SCI.
• 2
  FnEDA-null mice showed significantly improved behavioral recovery from SCI compared to wildtype mice.
• 3
  FnEDA-null mice exhibit smaller lesions with higher axonal density.