Developmental Neurobiology, 2018 · DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22601 · Published: May 11, 2018
The study focuses on the differences in how nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) respond to injury. PNS neurons can initiate a growth program to repair themselves, while CNS neurons often cannot. Researchers are exploring ways to enhance the neuron-intrinsic regenerative response to promote axon regeneration in the injured CNS. They use the dorsal column lesion model to study this. This model involves injuring the dorsal column of the spinal cord, which contains sensory neurons. These neurons behave differently depending on whether their peripheral or central branch is injured, making them ideal for studying neuron-intrinsic regeneration.
The dorsal column lesion model provides a valuable tool for dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying successful axon regeneration, particularly the neuron-intrinsic factors that differentiate PNS and CNS neuron responses to injury.
By identifying key transcription factors and signaling pathways involved in the regenerative response, researchers can develop targeted therapies to enhance axon regeneration in the injured spinal cord.
Strategies that combine manipulation of neuron-intrinsic regenerative capacity with modification of the lesion environment may lead to improved functional outcomes after spinal cord injury.