Single-cell analysis reveals region-heterogeneous responses in rhesus monkey spinal cord with complete injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to permanent motor and sensory dysfunction. This study used single-cell transcriptomics to understand cellular responses in rhesus monkeys with complete thoracic SCI. The researchers found that cells in distal lumbar tissue were severely impacted, leading to degenerative microenvironments. These environments were characterized by activated microglia and oligodendrocytes, and an increased proportion of inhibitory interneurons. Implanting a scaffold at the injury site improved the microenvironment by regulating glial cells and fibroblasts. It also remodeled spared lumbar tissues by reducing inhibitory neuron proportion and improving phagocytosis and myelination.

• 1
  Distal lumbar tissue cells were severely impacted, leading to degenerative microenvironments characterized by disease-associated microglia and oligodendrocytes activation alongside increased inhibitory interneurons proportion following SCI.
• 2
  Functional collagen scaffold implantation in the injury sites could remodel the microenvironment of the injury sites and the lumbar tissues, highlighting the potential of scaffold-based treatment strategies for repairing SCI.
• 3
  Intense interactions between different cell subtypes play important roles in pathological changes in proximal regions after spinal cord injury.