New insights into glial scar formation after spinal cord injury

Tran, Amanda Phuong, Warren, Philippa Mary ORCID: 0000-0002-9910-1156 and Silver, Jerry (2022) New insights into glial scar formation after spinal cord injury. CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH, 387 (3). pp. 319-336.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00441-021-03477-w

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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Glia, Glial scar, Glial scar formation, Spinal cord injury, Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, Single-cell RNA sequencing
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	17 Jan 2022 11:20
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 21:15
DOI:	10.1007/s00441-021-03477-w
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-021-03477-w
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3147015