Cell Death & Disease, 2020 · DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-2620-z · Published: June 1, 2020
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to loss of motor or sensory function, creating economic and emotional burdens. While many strategies exist, effective regenerative therapy is lacking. Significant progress has been made in gene regulation, cell transplantation, biomaterial repair, and neural signal stimulation. Combinatorial therapies, combining biomaterials, stem cells, growth factors, drugs, and exosomes, have shown promise in neural circuit reconstruction and functional recovery. However, axon regeneration alone is insufficient for meaningful functional recovery. Rehabilitation exercises, including exercise training, electrical stimulation, and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), are crucial for the formation and remodeling of functional neural circuits, leading to functional recovery after SCI.
Combinatorial therapies involving biomaterials, stem cells, growth factors, and rehabilitation exercises hold promise for improving neural circuit reconstruction and functional recovery after SCI.
Future research should focus on translating effective combinatorial strategies into clinical applications to improve outcomes for SCI patients.
Tailoring treatment approaches based on the specific pathological mechanisms and individual needs of SCI patients may optimize therapeutic efficacy.