Regulation of axonal regeneration after mammalian spinal cord injury

One hundred years ago, Ramon y Cajal, considered by many as the founder of modern neuroscience, stated that neurons of the adult central nervous system (CNS) are incapable of regenerating. Yet, recent years have seen a tremendous expansion of knowledge in the molecular control of axon regeneration after CNS injury. We now understand that regeneration in the adult CNS is limited by (1) a failure to form cellular or molecular substrates for axon attachment and elongation through the lesion site; (2) environmental factors, including inhibitors of axon growth associated with myelin and the extracellular matrix; (3) astrocyte responses, which can both limit and support axon growth; and (4) intraneuronal mechanisms controlling the establishment of an active cellular growth programme. We discuss these topics together with newly emerging hypotheses, including the surprising finding from transcriptomic analyses of the corticospinal system in mice that neurons revert to an embryonic state after spinal cord injury, which can be sustained to promote regeneration with neural stem cell transplantation. These gains in knowledge are steadily advancing efforts to develop effective treatment strategies for spinal cord injury in humans.

Automated summary

One hundred years ago, Ramon y Cajal claimed that adult central nervous system neurons cannot regenerate. However, recent years have seen significant progress in understanding the molecular control of axon regeneration after CNS injury. The limitations to CNS regeneration in adults include the failure to form substrates for axon attachment, environmental factors inhibiting axon growth, astrocyte responses, and intraneuronal mechanisms controlling cellular growth. New hypotheses, such as neuronal reversion to an embryonic state after spinal cord injury, offer potential avenues for promoting regeneration with neural stem cell transplantation. These advancements are crucial for developing treatment strategies for spinal cord injury in humans.