Recent progress and challenges in the treatment of spinal cord injury

Tian, Ting1; Zhang, Sensen1; Yang, Maojun1,2

2023-09-14

10.1093/procel/pwad003

PROTEIN & CELL   Impact Factor & Quartile

1674-800X

1674-8018

Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts the structural and functional connectivity between the higher center and the spinal cord, resulting in severe motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction with a variety of complications. The pathophysiology of SCI is complicated and multifaceted, and thus individual treatments acting on a specific aspect or process are inadequate to elicit neuronal regeneration and functional recovery after SCI. Combinatory strategies targeting multiple aspects of SCI pathology have achieved greater beneficial effects than individual therapy alone. Although many problems and challenges remain, the encouraging outcomes that have been achieved in preclinical models offer a promising foothold for the development of novel clinical strategies to treat SCI. In this review, we characterize the mechanisms underlying axon regeneration of adult neurons and summarize recent advances in facilitating functional recovery following SCI at both the acute and chronic stages. In addition, we analyze the current status, remaining problems, and realistic challenges towards clinical translation. Finally, we consider the future of SCI treatment and provide insights into how to narrow the translational gap that currently exists between preclinical studies and clinical practice. Going forward, clinical trials should emphasize multidisciplinary conversation and cooperation to identify optimal combinatorial approaches to maximize therapeutic benefit in humans with SCI.

spinal cord injury axon regeneration functional recovery therapeutic strategies clinical translation

SCI

English

Corresponding

National Key R&D Program of China[2022YFA1302701] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[32030056] ; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Office of Sponsored Research (OSR)[OSR-2020-CRG9-4352] ; Tsinghua-Foshan Innovation Special Fund[TFISF-2022THFS6122]

Cell Biology

Cell Biology

WOS:000941585900001

OXFORD UNIV PRESS

Web of Science

1.Tsinghua Univ, Sch Life Sci, Beijing Frontier Res Ctr Biol Struct, Minist Educ Key Lab Prot Sci,Beijing Adv Innovat C, Beijing 100084, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Cryo EM Facil Ctr, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Tian, Ting,Zhang, Sensen,Yang, Maojun. Recent progress and challenges in the treatment of spinal cord injury[J]. PROTEIN & CELL,2023,14(9).

Tian, Ting,Zhang, Sensen,&Yang, Maojun.(2023).Recent progress and challenges in the treatment of spinal cord injury.PROTEIN & CELL,14(9).

Tian, Ting,et al."Recent progress and challenges in the treatment of spinal cord injury".PROTEIN & CELL 14.9(2023).