Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Cell. Neurosci.
Sec. Non-Neuronal Cells
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1478741
This article is part of the Research Topic The Function and Mechanisms of Astrocytes Phenotypic Transformation and Astrocyte-Neuron Interaction in Central Nervous System Injury View all articles

Targeting Astrocytes Polarization After Spinal Cord Injury: A Promising Direction

Provisionally accepted
Helin Li Helin Li 1Ying Liu Ying Liu 1Yucao Sun Yucao Sun 2Hangyu Guo Hangyu Guo 1Shiyan Lv Shiyan Lv 1Wenhui Guo Wenhui Guo 1Jiyu Ren Jiyu Ren 1Yufu Wang Yufu Wang 1Jianing Zu Jianing Zu 1Jinglong Yan Jinglong Yan 1*Nanxiang Wang Nanxiang Wang 1*
  • 1 The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
  • 2 Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious neurological injury that causes severe trauma to motor and sensory functions. Although long considered incurable, recent research has brought new hope for functional recovery from SCI. After SCI, astrocytes are activated into many polarization states. Here we discuss the two most important classical phenotypes: the 'A1' neurotoxic phenotype and the 'A2' neuroprotective phenotype, with A1 astrocytes being neurotoxic and impeding neurorecovery, and A2 astrocytes being neuroprotective. This paper discusses the changes in astrocyte responsiveness after SCI and the pros and cons of their polarization in SCI. It also elucidates the feasibility of astrocyte polarization as a therapeutic target for neuroprotection. In the future, multiple intervention strategies targeting astrocyte polarization are expected to gain wider clinical application, ultimately improving motor-sensory function and quality of life in SCI patients.Astrocyte Modulation in Spinal Cord Injury. Cells, 13.

    Keywords: sci, astrocyte, A1 astrocytes, A2 astrocytes, polarization

    Received: 10 Aug 2024; Accepted: 07 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Li, Liu, Sun, Guo, Lv, Guo, Ren, Wang, Zu, Yan and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Jinglong Yan, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
    Nanxiang Wang, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.