Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Neuroinflammation after Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) following traumatic events is associated with the limited therapeutic options and sever complications, which can be partly due to inflammatory response. Therefore, this study aims to explore the role of inflammation in spinal cord injury. The findings showed that the pathological conditions of nervous system lead to activation of microglia, astrocyte, neutrophil, and macrophages. It is also may be mediated by glial and lead to neuronal injury and death through production of proinflammatory factors, such as cytokines (key factors in the onset, progression and suppression of inflammation) and chemokines. Inflammation is a major component of spinal cord injury; although it is possible that inflammation has beneficial effects, such as phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and pathogens clearance. However, this could contribute to spreading, amplifying, and chronicity of tissue damage, via production of neurotoxic factors. Conclusion: It seems that inflammation has a major role in the injured spinal cord. Identifying effective cells in the inflammatory responses as well as their numbers, nature of their actions, and types of released inflammatory factors, along with the discovery of appropriate coping strategies against them, will increase the hope to repair spinal cord injuries in future.