The Functional Role of Spinal Interneurons Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) impedes signal transmission by disrupting both the local neurons and their surrounding synaptic connections. Although the majority of SCI patients retain spared neural tissue at the injury site, they predominantly suffer from complete autonomic and sensorimotor dys...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2020.00127/full |
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| author | Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian James Hong James Hong Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings |
| author_facet | Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian James Hong James Hong Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings |
| author_sort | Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) impedes signal transmission by disrupting both the local neurons and their surrounding synaptic connections. Although the majority of SCI patients retain spared neural tissue at the injury site, they predominantly suffer from complete autonomic and sensorimotor dysfunction. While there have been significant advances in the characterization of the spared neural tissue following SCI, the functional role of injury-induced interneuronal plasticity remains elusive. In healthy individuals, spinal interneurons are responsible for relaying signals to coordinate both sympathetic and parasympathetic functions. However, the spontaneous synaptic loss following injury alters these intricate interneuronal networks in the spinal cord. Here, we propose the synaptopathy hypothesis of SCI based on recent findings regarding the maladaptive role of synaptic changes amongst the interneurons. These maladaptive consequences include circuit inactivation, neuropathic pain, spasticity, and autonomic dysreflexia. Recent preclinical advances have uncovered the therapeutic potential of spinal interneurons in activating the dormant relay circuits to restore sensorimotor function. This review will survey the diverse role of spinal interneurons in SCI pathogenesis as well as treatment strategies to target spinal interneurons. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:23:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f06bfd85ca4441fbdd425ec135564b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:23:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f06bfd85ca4441fbdd425ec135564b32022-12-21T18:51:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022020-05-011410.3389/fncel.2020.00127540949The Functional Role of Spinal Interneurons Following Traumatic Spinal Cord InjuryMohammad-Masoud Zavvarian0Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian1James Hong2James Hong3Michael G. Fehlings4Michael G. Fehlings5Michael G. Fehlings6Michael G. Fehlings7Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, CanadaInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaDivision of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, CanadaInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaDivision of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, CanadaInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaDivision of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaTraumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) impedes signal transmission by disrupting both the local neurons and their surrounding synaptic connections. Although the majority of SCI patients retain spared neural tissue at the injury site, they predominantly suffer from complete autonomic and sensorimotor dysfunction. While there have been significant advances in the characterization of the spared neural tissue following SCI, the functional role of injury-induced interneuronal plasticity remains elusive. In healthy individuals, spinal interneurons are responsible for relaying signals to coordinate both sympathetic and parasympathetic functions. However, the spontaneous synaptic loss following injury alters these intricate interneuronal networks in the spinal cord. Here, we propose the synaptopathy hypothesis of SCI based on recent findings regarding the maladaptive role of synaptic changes amongst the interneurons. These maladaptive consequences include circuit inactivation, neuropathic pain, spasticity, and autonomic dysreflexia. Recent preclinical advances have uncovered the therapeutic potential of spinal interneurons in activating the dormant relay circuits to restore sensorimotor function. This review will survey the diverse role of spinal interneurons in SCI pathogenesis as well as treatment strategies to target spinal interneurons.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2020.00127/fullspinal cord injuryinterneuronssynaptopathysynaptic connectionsneuroplasticity |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian Mohammad-Masoud Zavvarian James Hong James Hong Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings Michael G. Fehlings The Functional Role of Spinal Interneurons Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience spinal cord injury interneurons synaptopathy synaptic connections neuroplasticity |
| title | The Functional Role of Spinal Interneurons Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_full | The Functional Role of Spinal Interneurons Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_fullStr | The Functional Role of Spinal Interneurons Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Functional Role of Spinal Interneurons Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_short | The Functional Role of Spinal Interneurons Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury |
| title_sort | functional role of spinal interneurons following traumatic spinal cord injury |
| topic | spinal cord injury interneurons synaptopathy synaptic connections neuroplasticity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2020.00127/full |
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