Virus-mediated neuron-specific retrograde gene delivery in spinal cord injury

Abstract

Virus-mediated retrograde neuron-specific retrograde transport serves as an effective tool for determining the localization of neuronal somas, identifying interneuronal connections, and facilitating the retrograde delivery of therapeutic transgenes to support neuronal function and restoration. in the context of experimental spinal cord injury (SCI), retrograde transport of therapeutic transgenes offers several advantages over other more common delivery methods. these advantages include targeted transfer of genetic constructs to specific types of spinal neuron somas, low invasiveness, relatively low risk of inflammatory response, and the potential for repeated injections. research on retrograde transport has extensively focused on enhancing its efficiency through capsid modification and the application of novel promoters. this review provides a detailed examination of the outcomes of virus-mediated neuron-specific retrograde transduction of transgenes following intramuscular injection of genetic constructs. in retrograde delivery technology, the ability to choose between monosynaptic and polysynaptic transport, depending on the specific viral vector used, is a positive aspect. the review also separately addresses the effects of virus-mediated retrograde transduction on both spinal motoneurons and interneurons, which collectively form motor neuronal networks. by delivering transgenes through retrograde transport along axons from the periphery to the perikarya of spinal neurons, one can anticipate not only localized effects within the spinal cord but also in supraspinal structures, a crucial aspect for the restoration of extensive neural connections.