Spinal Cord Injury: Pathophysiology, Multimolecular Interactions, and Underlying Recovery Mechanisms

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020 · DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207533 · Published: October 13, 2020

Spinal Cord Injury Physiology Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) involves an initial physical trauma followed by a complex series of cellular and molecular events that worsen the damage. Understanding these events is crucial for developing effective treatments. After a spinal injury, various cells in the spinal cord, such as astrocytes, neurons, and microglia, interact in disrupted ways. This impaired interaction hinders spinal recovery. Current treatments offer only short-term aid because they do not fully address the complex mechanisms of SCI. Scientists are exploring new strategies to prevent or reverse the devastating outcomes of SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
SCI pathophysiology includes acute and chronic phases with destructive events like ischemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Many therapeutic strategies have been proposed.
2
Understanding the multicellular interactions between neuronal cells, neuroglia cells and non-neuronal cells is important to outline effective protective and regenerative strategies for SCI.
3
Neuroinflammation, involving cells like neutrophils and microglia, can be both beneficial and destructive in SCI, highlighting the need to balance inflammatory responses.

Research Summary

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a destructive neurological and pathological state that causes major motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions. The review aims to promote the understanding of SCI pathophysiology, interrelated or interlinked multimolecular interactions and various methods of neuronal recovery i.e., neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and neuro-regenerative pathways and relevant approaches. Developing a combinative approach utilising neuroprotective and neuro-regenerative strategies to simultaneously target multiple pathways will be beneficial.

Practical Implications

Targeted Therapies

Future treatments should target multiple degenerative pathways simultaneously for better outcomes.

Drug Delivery Systems

Develop drug delivery systems to enhance drug bioavailability, specificity, and duration of effects.

Combinative Approaches

Effective treatment modality for complete nerve regeneration needs a long period and combinative treatment modality

Study Limitations

1
Curative accomplishment is still elusive probably due to the complex healing and protective mechanisms involved.
2
Available treatments are limited and only provide supportive relief to patients with lifetime disability.
3
The pathophysiology of syrinx formation is poorly understood.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury