{"id":"4020f283-0878-40e9-b0b0-71e4f8591348","slug":"from-the-bench-to-bedside-secondary-spinal-cord-injury-ischemic-penumbra-after-stroke-neural-regulation-of-appetite-microglia-in-rett-syndrome-signaling-pathways-in-peripheral-nerve-regeneration","title":"From the bench to bedside: Secondary spinal cord injury, ischemic penumbra after stroke, neural regulation of appetite, microglia in Rett syndrome, signaling pathways in peripheral nerve regeneration","authors":["Brendan M. Fong","Jason S. Hauptman"],"abstract":"Background: Secondary spinal cord injury is influenced by inflammatory responses related to ATP release, which is mediated by connexin43 (Cx43) channels. Understanding the role of Cx43 in this process may provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for minimizing post-traumatic inflammation. Methods: The study utilized astrocytes lacking Cx43 to measure ATP levels, astrogliosis, and microglia activation following spinal cord injury in both control and Cx43 knockout mice. Functional recovery was assessed by measuring compound action potentials (CAPs) in these mice. Results: Cx43 knockout mice exhibited reduced ATP levels, decreased astrogliosis, and lower microglia activation compared to wild-type mice. Additionally, the knockout mice showed improved preservation of spinal cord conduction, indicating enhanced functional recovery after injury. Conclusion: These findings suggest that targeting Cx43 may be a promising strategy for reducing secondary inflammatory responses in spinal cord injury, potentially leading to improved therapeutic approaches in clinical settings. Keywords: spinal cord injury, Cx43, ATP, inflammation, functional recovery, microglia, neuroprotection","thumbnailUrl":null,"publishDate":"2012-05-31T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.96865","categories":["Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"http://sni.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/3344/SNI-3-56.pdf"}