About this Research Topic
Spinal cord injury (SCI) usually leads to devastating neurological deficits and disabilities. A variety of cells including nerve cells, glial cells, perivascular cells and immune cells, as well as cytokines, ions and extracellular matrix constitute the unique microenvironment after SCI. Accumulating evidence indicates that the components in the microenvironment play important roles in the progression, regeneration and recovery of SCI, such as reactive astrocytes form a glial scar that limits inflammation and axonal growth; polarization of microglia/macrophages could help support axon plasticity; spared oligodendrocytes differentiate and produce myelin; iron overload in the motor cortex induces neuronal ferroptosis. However, because of the complexity of the pathophysiology after SCI, there is still no effective treatment. Thus, better understanding the mechanisms underlying the microenvironment, including identification of specific key molecule, cell types, cell-cell, cell-cytokine and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, as well as uncovering complexity of progression postinjury for creating a pro-regenerative microenvironment may serve as a promising strategy for the treatment of SCI.
Increasing evidence indicates that the cross-talk between the components in the microenvironment through direct contact or secretion of cytokines after SCI could lead to detrimental or beneficial effect. Moreover, not only resident cells, but also foreign immune cells (e.g. macrophages, T cells and neutrophils) may play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of SCI. Thus, exploiting precise patterning and function of the compositions in the microenvironment at different phases of SCI and to uncover the veil of the interaction between cell types is of critical value for future therapeutic strategies and clinical trials design.
We welcome contributions in form of Original Research articles, Reviews and Mini-Reviews that cover but are not limited to the following topics related to the microenvironment after SCI:
(1) The precise temporal and spatial change of the major components of microenvironment, including nerve cells, glial cells, perivascular cells and immune cells, as well as inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6), chemokines, ions (e.g. K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Fe2+), growth factors and extracellular matrix after traumatic SCI.
(2) The physiological roles of cells (e.g. nerve cells, glial cells, perivascular cells and immune cells), inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, ions (e.g. K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Fe2+) and extracellular matrix in the pathophysiology of SCI and the mechanisms of microenvironment imbalance leading to poor regeneration.
(3) Signaling pathways and cellular interaction (e.g. astrocyte-microglia, immune cell-oligodendrocyte) in the microenvironment after SCI.
(4) Therapeutic and prevention strategies that target the formation of the microenvironment after SCI.
(5) Techniques such as single-cell sequencing and spatial imaging strategies that contribute to explore the microenvironment.
Increasing evidence indicates that the cross-talk between the components in the microenvironment through direct contact or secretion of cytokines after SCI could lead to detrimental or beneficial effect. Moreover, not only resident cells, but also foreign immune cells (e.g. macrophages, T cells and neutrophils) may play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of SCI. Thus, exploiting precise patterning and function of the compositions in the microenvironment at different phases of SCI and to uncover the veil of the interaction between cell types is of critical value for future therapeutic strategies and clinical trials design.
We welcome contributions in form of Original Research articles, Reviews and Mini-Reviews that cover but are not limited to the following topics related to the microenvironment after SCI:
(1) The precise temporal and spatial change of the major components of microenvironment, including nerve cells, glial cells, perivascular cells and immune cells, as well as inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6), chemokines, ions (e.g. K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Fe2+), growth factors and extracellular matrix after traumatic SCI.
(2) The physiological roles of cells (e.g. nerve cells, glial cells, perivascular cells and immune cells), inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, ions (e.g. K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Fe2+) and extracellular matrix in the pathophysiology of SCI and the mechanisms of microenvironment imbalance leading to poor regeneration.
(3) Signaling pathways and cellular interaction (e.g. astrocyte-microglia, immune cell-oligodendrocyte) in the microenvironment after SCI.
(4) Therapeutic and prevention strategies that target the formation of the microenvironment after SCI.
(5) Techniques such as single-cell sequencing and spatial imaging strategies that contribute to explore the microenvironment.
Keywords: Spinal cord injury, microenvironment, cytokines, immune cells
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