Regulatory Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Secondary Inflammation in Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic condition with high morbidity and mortality that still lacks effective therapeutic strategies. It is well known that the most important stage in SCI pathogenesis is secondary injury, and among the involved mechanisms, the inflammatory cascade is the main contributor and directly influences neurological function recovery. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation is a promising immunomodulatory strategy. Transplanted MSCs can regulate macrophage-, astrocyte-, and T lymphocyte-mediated neuroinflammation and help create a micro environment that facilitates tissue repair and regeneration. This review focuses on the effects of different types of immune cells and MSCs, specifically the immunoregulatory capacity of MSCs in SCI and repair. We will also discuss how to exploit MSCs transplantation to regulate immune cells and develop novel therapeutic strategies for SCI.

Automated summary

This review focuses on the immunoregulatory capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in spinal cord injury (SCI) and their potential in tissue repair. The inflammatory cascade plays a crucial role in the secondary injury of SCI, and transplanting MSCs can regulate various immune cells to create a favorable microenvironment for neurological function recovery.