Mechanisms of spinal cord injury regeneration in zebrafish: a systematic review

Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 2017 · DOI: 10.22038/IJBMS.2017.9620 · Published: December 1, 2017

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine Neurology

Simple Explanation

This systematic review examines the molecular and cellular mechanisms that enable zebrafish to regenerate after spinal cord injury (SCI). Unlike mammals, zebrafish can fully recover from SCI. The review identifies several key molecules and signaling pathways involved in zebrafish SCI regeneration, including Wnt/ß-catenin, L1.1, L1.2, MVP, contactin-2, and HMGB1, which promote axonal re-growth. The review also highlights the roles of glial cells and neurogenesis, both crucial for the regenerative process, and notes molecules like LPA and HMGB1 have complex roles, stimulating inflammation early on but aiding regeneration later.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

32 studies using zebrafish

Evidence Level

Systematic Review

Key Findings

1
Wnt/ß-catenin signaling promotes neurogenesis and axonal regrowth after SCI in zebrafish.
2
FGF signaling stimulates glial cell proliferation and the formation of a glial bridge that facilitates axonal regeneration.
3
LPA and HMGB1 have dual roles, initially promoting inflammation and suppressing regeneration, but later contributing to tissue repair.

Research Summary

This systematic review aimed to determine the molecular and cellular mechanisms of spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish by searching PubMed and Scopus databases. The review found that Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, L1.1, L1.2, Major vault protein (MVP), contactin-2 and High mobility group box1 (HMGB1) had positive promoting effects on axonal re-growth while Ptena had an inhibitory effect. The study concludes that a better understanding of the mechanisms for SCI regeneration in zebrafish should be considered a main goal for future studies.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Targets

Identifying key molecules and pathways in zebrafish regeneration could lead to new therapeutic strategies for SCI in humans.

Drug Development

Understanding the role of molecules like LPA and HMGB1 could help develop drugs that modulate inflammation and promote regeneration.

Cellular Therapies

Insights into glial cell and neuroprogenitor cell behavior may lead to new cell-based therapies for SCI.

Study Limitations

1
The study acknowledges limitations due to the specific search strategies, which may have limited the number of papers included.
2
Data quality assessment for each article has not been considered and discussed separately.
3
There is no comparison with other systematic reviews.

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