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Pericytes Act as Key Players in Spinal Cord Injury

Caroline C Picoli1, Leda M C Coimbra-Campos1, Daniel A P Guerra1

  • 1Department of Pathology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

The American Journal of Pathology
|April 25, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Blocking specific pericytes in the spinal cord promotes nerve regeneration and improves motor function after injury. This finding offers new therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes locomotor impairment due to inhibitory scar formation, hindering axonal regeneration.
  • Limited understanding of scar formation mechanisms post-SCI impedes effective therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding pericyte biology in the spinal cord.
  • To highlight the role of pericytes in scar formation and axonal regeneration after SCI.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing state-of-the-art technologies such as genetic tracking and optogenetics.
  • Investigating the effects of pericyte blockage on axonal regeneration and neuronal integration.

Main Results:

  • A specific subset of pericytes is crucial for scar formation following SCI.
  • Blocking these pericytes facilitates axonal regeneration and neuronal integration.
  • Pericyte blockage leads to significant improvements in motor performance after SCI.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting specific pericytes presents a promising therapeutic avenue for SCI.
  • Further research into pericyte biology can drive novel treatments for spinal cord repair.

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