Molecular Targets for Therapeutic Intervention after Spinal Cord Injury

  1. Brian K. Kwon1,2,
  2. Jaimie F. Borisoff1 and
  3. Wolfram Tetzlaff1,3
  1. 1International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD)
  2. 2Department of Orthopaedics,
  3. 3Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1z4

Abstract

In an effort to develop therapies for promoting neurological recovery after spinal cord injury, much work has been done to identify the cellular and molecular factors that control axonal regeneration within the injured central nervous system. This review summarizes the current understanding of a number of the elements within the spinal cord environment that inhibit axonal growth and outlines the factors that influence the neuron’s ability to regenerate its axon after injury. Recent insights in these areas have identified important molecular pathways that are potential targets for therapeutic intervention, raising hope for victims of spinal cord injury.

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