The Role of Inflammatory Cascade and Reactive Astrogliosis in Glial Scar Formation Post‑spinal Cord Injury

After a spinal cord injury, glial cells, especially astrocytes, become dysfunctional, leading to the formation of a glial scar. This disruption initiates neuroinflammation, involving microglia, neutrophils, other glial cells, and cytokine production. There are two types of astrocytes, A1 and A2. A2 is protective, while A1 releases neurotoxins that further promote glial scar formation.

• 1
  The disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier after injury leads to an imbalance in the immunological microenvironment, triggering neuroinflammation.
• 2
  A1 astrocytes release neurotoxins that are harmful to CNS neurons and mature OLs, and they upregulate complement cascade genes harmful to synapses.
• 3
  M1 macrophages are pro-inflammatory and hinder axonal regeneration, while M2 macrophages clear dead cellular debris and promote axonal regeneration.