Cells, 2021 · DOI: 10.3390/cells10102682 · Published: October 7, 2021
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to neurological deficits, impacting a person's life quality, creating a need for treatments that prevent injury progression and improve recovery. The initial mechanical insult and subsequent secondary mechanisms exacerbate the lesion site, inhibiting neurological recovery. Oedema, the accumulation of fluid, rapidly follows SCI and worsens the detrimental pathophysiology, leading to poorer functional outcomes. Experimental treatments targeting oedema are currently being explored to mitigate these effects. This study identifies key modalities such as selective inhibition of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), modulation of inflammation, and surgical interventions that attenuate oedema, ultimately leading to its reduction and improved functional outcomes after SCI.
The identification of AQP4 as a key regulator of oedema provides a specific target for future therapeutic interventions.
The efficacy of trifluoperazine (TFP), an already licensed drug, suggests potential for drug repurposing to treat oedema in SCI.
The study emphasizes the importance of early intervention with anti-oedemic therapies to limit secondary damage and improve functional outcomes.