Neuroplasticity and regeneration after spinal cord injury

Nayaab Punjani, BSc; Dylan Deska-Gauthier, PhD; Laureen D. Hachem, MD; Madlene Abramian, BSc; Michael G. Fehlings, MD PhD

North American Spine Society Journal (Sep 2023)

Neuroplasticity and regeneration after spinal cord injury

Nayaab Punjani, BSc,
Dylan Deska-Gauthier, PhD,
Laureen D. Hachem, MD,
Madlene Abramian, BSc,
Michael G. Fehlings, MD PhD

Affiliations

Nayaab Punjani, BSc: Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Dylan Deska-Gauthier, PhD: Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Laureen D. Hachem, MD: Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Madlene Abramian, BSc: Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Michael G. Fehlings, MD PhD: Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Corresponding author: Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Suite 4WW-449, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada. Tel.: (416) 603-5627.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15
p. 100235

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition with significant personal, societal, and economic burden. The highest proportion of traumatic injuries occur at the cervical level, which results in severe sensorimotor and autonomic deficits. Following the initial physical damage associated with traumatic injuries, secondary pro-inflammatory, excitotoxic, and ischemic cascades are initiated further contributing to neuronal and glial cell death. Additionally, emerging evidence has begun to reveal that spinal interneurons undergo subtype specific neuroplastic circuit rearrangements in the weeks to months following SCI, contributing to or hindering functional recovery. The current therapeutic guidelines and standards of care for SCI patients include early surgery, hemodynamic regulation, and rehabilitation. Additionally, preclinical work and ongoing clinical trials have begun exploring neuroregenerative strategies utilizing endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells, stem cell transplantation, combinatorial approaches, and direct cell reprogramming. This review will focus on emerging cellular and noncellular regenerative therapies with an overview of the current available strategies, the role of interneurons in plasticity, and the exciting research avenues enhancing tissue repair following SCI.

Published in North American Spine Society Journal

ISSN: 2666-5484 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Surgery: Orthopedic surgery; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/north-american-spine-society-journal-nassj/

About the journal

Abstract

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