Abstract
The journey toward a cure for spinal cord injury (SCI) has taken many paths. In this article, we review these paths, and highlight the clinical applications of these experimental repair strategies. Initial strategies involved attempts at neuroprotection with steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs. Other anti-ischemia treatments, agents to eliminate the damage from excitotoxicity, and anti-apoptotic agents were also tried. Another avenue involved enhancing the function of the remaining uninjured axons by measures to produce remyelination and medications to improve axonal conduction. In the last two decades there has been a major effort to enhance spinal cord axonal regeneration through a variety of techniques including neutralization of neurite inhibition, administration of neurotrophic factors, implantation of synthetic channels, and transplantation of a variety of cell types. Indeed, several of these strategies have been so promising in animals that clinicians have been stimulated to explore their potential human application. We also examine the different experimental models of SCI used to assess repair, and discuss how the injury model impacts on the assessment of axonal regeneration and functional recovery after SCI. The mechanisms of recovery that may be involved after SCI will be analyzed, and their relevance toward finding a cure for human SCI. Unfortunately, the goal of producing significant functional regeneration of the human spinal cord has not yet been achieved despite the many strategies that have been developed. It is our hope that improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying functional recovery will lead to successful therapeutic strategies in humans.
Keywords: repair, spinal cord injury, neuroprotection, regeneration, transplantation, synthetic channels, neurotrophic factors, mechanisms of recovery
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Neuroprotection and Regeneration Strategies for Spinal Cord Repair
Volume: 11 Issue: 10
Author(s): Eve C. Tsai and Charles H. Tator
Affiliation:
Keywords: repair, spinal cord injury, neuroprotection, regeneration, transplantation, synthetic channels, neurotrophic factors, mechanisms of recovery
Abstract: The journey toward a cure for spinal cord injury (SCI) has taken many paths. In this article, we review these paths, and highlight the clinical applications of these experimental repair strategies. Initial strategies involved attempts at neuroprotection with steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs. Other anti-ischemia treatments, agents to eliminate the damage from excitotoxicity, and anti-apoptotic agents were also tried. Another avenue involved enhancing the function of the remaining uninjured axons by measures to produce remyelination and medications to improve axonal conduction. In the last two decades there has been a major effort to enhance spinal cord axonal regeneration through a variety of techniques including neutralization of neurite inhibition, administration of neurotrophic factors, implantation of synthetic channels, and transplantation of a variety of cell types. Indeed, several of these strategies have been so promising in animals that clinicians have been stimulated to explore their potential human application. We also examine the different experimental models of SCI used to assess repair, and discuss how the injury model impacts on the assessment of axonal regeneration and functional recovery after SCI. The mechanisms of recovery that may be involved after SCI will be analyzed, and their relevance toward finding a cure for human SCI. Unfortunately, the goal of producing significant functional regeneration of the human spinal cord has not yet been achieved despite the many strategies that have been developed. It is our hope that improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying functional recovery will lead to successful therapeutic strategies in humans.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Tsai C. Eve and Tator H. Charles, Neuroprotection and Regeneration Strategies for Spinal Cord Repair, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2005; 11 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612053507404
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612053507404 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Central Nervous System Manifestations in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Current Rheumatology Reviews Brain Tumour Stem Cells: Implications for Cancer Therapy and Regenerative Medicine
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Patents on Technologies of Human Tissue and Organ Regeneration from Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis – Pathogenesis of Neurodegeneration and Therapeutic Strategies
Current Neuropharmacology Placebos Used in Clinical Trials for Chinese Herbal Medicine
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Microenvironmental Determinants of Adult Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Lineage Commitment in the Healthy and Injured Central Nervous System
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy An Update on Peptide Drugs for Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Neuroprotection and Sex Steroid Hormones: Evidence of Estradiol- Mediated Protection in Hypertensive Encephalopathy
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Aligning Animal Models of Clinical Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage, From Basic Correlation to Therapeutic Approach
Current Drug Targets The Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in the Central Nervous System
Current Medicinal Chemistry Neuroimaging of the Serotonin Transporter: Possibilities and Pitfalls
Current Psychiatry Reviews The Emerging Role of TRP Channels in Mechanisms of Temperature and Pain Sensation
Current Neuropharmacology Glycine/NMDA Receptor Antagonists as Potential CNS Therapeutic Agents: ACEA-1021 and Related Compounds
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Mitophagy: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Treating DN
Current Medicinal Chemistry Physiopathological Roles of P2X Receptors in the Central Nervous System
Current Medicinal Chemistry Perspective of Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Sepsis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Delivery of Nanoparticles for Treatment of Brain Tumor
Current Drug Metabolism Recent Advances in Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Cellular Imaging and Targeted Therapy Research
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pharmacological Approaches to Induce Neuroregeneration in Spinal Cord Injury: An Overview
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Serotonin as a Modulator of Glutamate- and GABA-Mediated Neurotransmission: Implications in Physiological Functions and in Pathology
Current Neuropharmacology