Astrogliosis: A review of the astrocytic mechanisms, imaging modes, and treatments in spinal cord injury patients

Abstract

Astrocytes are cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that are responsible for many things, such as maintaining blood brain barrier (BBB), regulating synapses in the spinal cord, and responding to spinal cord injury (SCI). Astrogliosis, the astrocytic response to spinal cord injuries (SCIs), helps repair CNS damages by regulating different protein filaments, thus limiting axonal growth. Former studies that were demonstrated through laser capture microdissection and immunohistochemistry (IHC) helped to identify important genes involved in experimental therapies for SCIs. Additionally, there are potential clinical treatments options for SCIs such as hydrogels, mesenchymal stem cells and steroids. Increased imaging modalities indicate that excessive astrogliosis can have adverse effects. These imaging techniques include positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and two-photon laser-scanning microscopy (TPLSM). These techniques illuminate greater details of the astrocytic response to SCIs. Despite these findings, astrogliosis is not well understood by the research community. Many of the studies presented in this literature review are experimental attempts to understand the mechanisms of astrogliosis in SCIs. This literature review aims to summarize the methods of each study in visualizing the mechanisms of astrogliosis and how they play a role in SCIs. Furthermore, this paper is aimed to comprehensively bridge the developments in the treatment for SCI patients based on innovative imaging modalities. Compared to prior studies, this review utilizes more recent understandings of the astrogliosis mechanisms to highlight insights into targeted developments, both clinically and preclinically. Some limitations of this literature review include the limited studies on astrogliosis and its impact on SCIs. Nonetheless, there is ongoing potential in the search for treatments for SCIs.