Injuries to the nervous system, whether the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves can produce alterations in motor and sensory function leading to a substantial decline in the quality of life. These injuries can have a negative impact on the individual's social and economic welfare. Although many advances have been made in understanding the mechanism leading to functional loss and regenerative failure, neurological outcomes still remain poor, and no cures have been developed.
This research topic will explore recent advances in the molecular components for the development and progression of the injury as well as those promoting axonal regeneration or sprouting for support of functional recovery. Identification of molecular interactions influencing gliosis/glial scarring, neuroprotection, inflammation, neuronal degeneration, and regeneration all have significant contributions to the overall failure in recovery of lost function. The molecular changes and composition of the injured nervous system cooperate to alter cellular interactions producing a relatively hostile environment through which axon regeneration is limited, even in the peripheral nervous system that regenerates relatively well. Reduction in the intrinsic growth potential of neurons further exacerbates the growth potential after injury. Ultimately, regenerative failure can lead to not only persistence loss of motor and sensory function, but also produce detrimental functional outcomes such as chronic pain and autonomic dysreflexia. Therefore, it is necessary to understand in more depth the molecular mechanisms that underlie the complex sequence of events that follows these three different types of damages but also to define the best strategies for optimizing treatment and CNS regeneration.
Injuries to the nervous system, whether the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves can produce alterations in motor and sensory function leading to a substantial decline in the quality of life. These injuries can have a negative impact on the individual's social and economic welfare. Although many advances have been made in understanding the mechanism leading to functional loss and regenerative failure, neurological outcomes still remain poor, and no cures have been developed.
This research topic will explore recent advances in the molecular components for the development and progression of the injury as well as those promoting axonal regeneration or sprouting for support of functional recovery. Identification of molecular interactions influencing gliosis/glial scarring, neuroprotection, inflammation, neuronal degeneration, and regeneration all have significant contributions to the overall failure in recovery of lost function. The molecular changes and composition of the injured nervous system cooperate to alter cellular interactions producing a relatively hostile environment through which axon regeneration is limited, even in the peripheral nervous system that regenerates relatively well. Reduction in the intrinsic growth potential of neurons further exacerbates the growth potential after injury. Ultimately, regenerative failure can lead to not only persistence loss of motor and sensory function, but also produce detrimental functional outcomes such as chronic pain and autonomic dysreflexia. Therefore, it is necessary to understand in more depth the molecular mechanisms that underlie the complex sequence of events that follows these three different types of damages but also to define the best strategies for optimizing treatment and CNS regeneration.