Cellular “Cleaning Crews” Get Busy During Spinal Cord Injury

Nerve cells transmit and receive information traversing the human body in the form of electrical impulses. These extremely delicate and sensitive cells are easily damaged as a result of accidents or disease. Following impairment, their likelihood of regaining function largely depends on their anatomical location. Nerves in the limbs and torso, for example, are able to repair themselves and regain some function.

Neurons in the brain and spinal cord, however, do not have these regenerative capabilities. Here, their healing is hindered by excessive scar tissue formation and inhibitory molecular processes inside the nerves. Consequently, around 40 percent of individuals with spinal cord injuries are considered paraplegic, and 60 percent are quadriplegic.

What are the cellular and molecular changes during spinal cord injury that are frustrating regeneration? Could the involvement of inflammatory processes be doing more harm than good?

Jonathan Kipnis and Kodi Ravichandran from the University of Virginia School of Medicine are seeking answers to these and other unanswered questions which could serve as a foundation for spinal cord injury therapies. The work is part of a $14 million grant to support research on inflammation from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.