Different Ways to Die: Cell Death Pathways and Their Association With Spinal Cord Injury

Cell death is a systematic/nonsystematic process of cessation of normal morphology and functional properties of the cell to replace and recycle old cells with new also promoting in-flammation in some cases. It is a complicated process comprising multiple pathways. Some are well-explored, and others have just begun to be. The research on appropriate control of cell death pathways after acute and chronic damage of neuronal cells is being widely re-searched today due to the lack of regeneration and recovering potential of a neuronal cell after sustaining damage and the inability to control the direction of neuronal growth. In the progression and onset of various neurological diseases, impairments in programmed cell death signaling processes, like necroptosis, apoptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and path-ways directly or indirectly linked, like autophagy as in nonprogrammed necrosis, are ob-served. Spinal cord injury (SCI) involves the temporary or permanent disruption of motor activities due to the death of a neuronal and glial cell in the spinal cord accompanied by ax-onal degeneration. Recent years have seen a significant increase in research on the intricate biochemical interactions that occur after a SCI. Different cell death pathways may signifi-cantly impact the subsequent damage processes that lead to the eventual neurological defi-ciency after an injury to the spinal cord. A better knowledge of the molecular basis of the involved cell death pathways might help enhance neuronal and glial survival and neurologi-cal deficits, promoting a curative path for SCI.

Automated summary

Cell death is a complex process involving multiple pathways, some of which have been well-studied while others are still being explored. In neurological diseases, impairments in various programmed cell death signaling processes are observed. Spinal cord injury, characterized by the death of neuronal and glial cells, can be influenced by different cell death pathways. A better understanding of the molecular basis of these pathways may enhance neuronal and glial survival, promoting a curative path for spinal cord injury.