Immune-Based Therapies for Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) results in both focal and diffuse spinal cord pathologies that are exacerbated by an inflammatory response after the initial injury. Resident and infiltrating immune cells contribute significantly to the growth-refractory environment near the lesion and can intensify damage to spared tissue, resulting in impaired spontaneous functional recovery. Numerous studies have demonstrated that several immunomodulatory therapies administered after experimental SCI may be beneficial in promoting functional recovery. In this review, we focus on the therapeutic potential of the most abundant immune-based therapies e.g., rolipram, liposomal clodronate and TNF-α based therapy including etanercept, thalidomide and adenosine A1 receptor therapy their contribution to eliminating secondary damage and promoting recovery after SCI.