Critical role of microglia in the inflammatory response after spinal injury


 

Abstract

The spinal cord, comprising nerve cells and supporting cells, is a vital component of the central nervous system (CNS) that connects the brain to the body. It is part of a bony structure, the vertebral column, which protects the delicate cord from external damage. Various factors can cause spinal cord injuries (SCIs) that disrupt its structure and function, leading to devastating consequences for affected individuals. It is important to understand SCIs, their causes, structure, consequences, and pathology to inform research and therapeutic efforts. As SCIs severely damage the CNS, which doesn’t regenerate after injury, efficient pathways to repair the nervous system must be found. This is understood as a cellular response to injury, currently focusing on immune and glial inflammation. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain, fulfilling roles in the maintenance, repair, and homeostasis of the healthy CNS, and responding to injury and disease. While they perform beneficial, protective roles under some circumstances, they can also harm cells by the release of neurotoxic molecules. This dual action makes them a prime candidate for possible therapeutic interventions in various neurological disorders, including SCIs. The proper functioning of the spinal cord and the integrity of the spinal cord pathway mechanisms are essential for an unaffected or intact interchange between the body and the brain. However, a spinal injury or the rupture of the spinal cord-producing lesion interrupts these pathways. The kinds of lesions can happen through disease, trauma, congenital malformation, or injection of a drug. The types or classes of injury producing insults can be classified into two categories: complete and incomplete. In a complete injury, the spinal cord is completely damaged, and there is a complete loss of function below the level of injury. In an incomplete injury, the spinal cord is partially damaged, function below the level of injury is not completely lost, and the deficit varies in the extent of damage to different tracts.

Keywords: Spinal cord injury; Microglia; Pro-inflammatory cytokines; CNS; Immune cells

Copyright © 2015 by The American Society for BioMedicine and BM-Publisher, Inc.

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Research Article


DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18081/2333-5106/015-03/453-462
American Journal of BioMedicine 2015, Volume 3, Issue 3, pages 123-140
Received 11 March 2015; accepted June; 09, 2015, Published July 11, 2015

How to cite this article
Shi Y, Liu WY, Wang FC. Critical role of microglia in the inflammatory response after spinal injury. American Journal of BioMedicine 2015;3(3):123–140
Review Article
1. Abstract
2. Keywords
3. Introduction
5. Results
6. Discussion
7. References

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