title: Repertoire of microglial and macrophage responses after spinal cord injury.
abstract: Macrophages from the peripheral circulation and those derived from resident microglia are among the main effector cells of the inflammatory response that follows spinal cord trauma. There has been considerable debate in the field as to whether the inflammatory response is good or bad for tissue protection and repair. Recent studies on macrophage polarization in non-neural tissues have shed much light on their changing functional states. In the context of this literature, we discuss the activation of macrophages and microglia following spinal cord injury, and their effects on repair. Harnessing their anti-inflammatory properties could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies for spinal cord trauma.
authors.affiliation: The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1A4. sam.david@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kroner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*