New Insights into Glial Scar Formation after Spinal Cord Injury

Amanda Tran, Philippa Warren*, Jerry Silver*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

73 Citations (Scopus)
74 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Severe spinal cord injury causes permanent loss of function and sensation throughout the body. The trauma causes a multifaceted torrent of pathophysiological processes which ultimately act to form a complex structure, permanently remodeling the cellular architecture and extracellular matrix. This structure is traditionally termed the glial/fibrotic scar. Similar cellular formations occur following stroke, infection and neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) signifying their fundamental importance to preservation of function. It is increasingly recognized that the scar performs multiple roles affecting recovery following traumatic injury. Innovative research into the properties of this structure is imperative to the development of treatment strategies to recover motor function and sensation following CNS trauma. In this review, we summarize how the regeneration potential of the CNS alters across phyla and age through formation of scar like structures. We describe how new insights from next generation sequencing technologies have yielded a more complex portrait of the molecular mechanisms governing the astrocyte, microglial, and neuronal responses to injury and development, especially of the glial component of the scar. Finally, we discuss possible combinatorial therapeutic approaches centering on scar modulation to restore function after severe CNS injury.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCell and Tissue Research
Early online date2 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 2 Jun 2021

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