Regenerative Role of T Cells in Nerve Repair and Functional Recovery

Xiaoxuan Tang1,2, Qiaoyuan Li1, Tingting Huang1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China.

The immune system is essential in the process of nerve repair after injury. Successful modulation of the immune response is regarded as an effective approach to improving treatment outcomes. T cells play an important role in the immune response of the nervous system, and their beneficial roles in promoting regeneration have been increasingly recognized. However, the diversity of T-cell subsets also delivers both neuroprotective and neurodegenerative functions. Therefore, this review mainly discusses the beneficial impact of T-cell subsets in the repair of both peripheral nervous system and central nervous system injuries and introduces studies on various therapies based on T-cell regulation. Further discoveries in T-cell mechanisms and multifunctional biomaterials will provide novel strategies for nerve regeneration.

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