Pericytes Act as Key Players in Spinal Cord Injury

American Journal of Pathology, 2019 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.03.008 · Published: July 1, 2019

Spinal Cord Injury Cardiovascular Science Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury leads to the formation of a scar that inhibits nerve regeneration. Pericytes, cells surrounding blood vessels, play a key role in this scarring process. Blocking a specific subset of pericytes can facilitate axonal regeneration and improve motor function after spinal cord injury. After spinal cord lesion, pericytes detach from the blood vessels, proliferate, and migrate to the center of the ﬁbrous scar that is being formed, contributing to the lesion sealing. Blocking Glast-expressing pericytes after spinal cord injury improves axonal regeneration, and motor function. The authors suggest that this is because of the reduction in lesion scarring, dependent of pericytes.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Mouse models

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
A subset of pericytes (Glast+) contributes significantly to fibrotic scar formation after spinal cord injury in mice.
2
Blocking the proliferation of Glast+ pericytes reduces fibrotic scarring, inflammation, and astrogliosis, facilitating axonal regeneration and improving motor performance.
3
Pericytes regulate capillary tone and blood flow in the spinal cord below the injury site, and blocking these mechanisms decreases hypoxia and ameliorates motor function.

Research Summary

This review discusses the role of pericytes in spinal cord injury, focusing on their involvement in scar formation and potential as therapeutic targets. A specific subset of pericytes (Glast+) contributes to fibrotic scarring, and blocking these cells can promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery in animal models. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interactions of pericytes with other cells in the spinal cord microenvironment and to translate these findings into effective therapies for humans.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Target

Glast-expressing pericytes represent a potential therapeutic target for reducing scar formation and promoting axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury.

Targeted Therapies

Developing therapies that specifically target Glast-expressing pericytes without interfering with essential tissue repair processes could improve outcomes after spinal cord injury.

Further Research

Future studies should investigate the mechanisms by which pericytes contribute to scarring and explore the potential of pericyte-based therapies for spinal cord injury in humans.

Study Limitations

1
Studies are primarily in animal models and may not fully translate to human spinal cord injury.
2
The exact mechanisms by which pericytes contribute to scarring and influence axonal regeneration are not fully understood.
3
The heterogeneity of pericytes and their interactions with other cells in the spinal cord microenvironment require further investigation.

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