The Inﬂuence of Neuron-Extrinsic Factors and Aging on Injury Progression and Axonal Repair in the Central Nervous System

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 2020 · DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00190 · Published: March 25, 2020

Simple Explanation

This review explores the influence of neuron-extrinsic factors on axon regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI), focusing on how aging affects this process. The review discusses inflammation, astrogliosis, extracellular matrix components, and myelin proteins, highlighting their roles in the age-dependent decline of axonal growth. Understanding these factors is critical for developing therapies to stimulate repair in SCI patients regardless of age.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Aging exacerbates the inflammatory response after SCI, leading to increased tissue damage and reduced functional recovery.
2
Astrocytes, which play a crucial role in CNS homeostasis and repair, undergo functional alterations with aging that can impair their ability to support neuron regeneration after SCI.
3
Changes in the extracellular matrix composition and biomechanical properties of the injured spinal cord with age can impede axon regeneration.

Research Summary

This review examines the evidence for an age-dependent decline in axon growth after CNS injury, focusing on neuron-extrinsic factors. The review highlights how inflammation, astrogliosis, extracellular matrix components, and myelin proteins are altered with age and SCI, affecting axon regeneration. It emphasizes the need to understand the interaction between injury and aging to develop effective therapies for axonal repair in the aging SCI population.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Development

Understanding age-related changes in neuron-extrinsic factors can lead to the development of targeted therapies to promote axon regeneration after SCI in older individuals.

Clinical Trial Design

Considering the age of participants in clinical trials for SCI treatments is crucial, as the response to therapies may differ significantly between younger and older individuals.

Personalized Medicine

Tailoring treatment strategies based on the age and specific characteristics of the individual's injury environment could improve outcomes after SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Limited literature directly addressing the intersection of aging and SCI research.
2
The complexity of neuron-extrinsic and intrinsic factor interactions makes it challenging to isolate specific mechanisms.
3
Variations in study designs and methodologies across different model organisms.

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