title: Towards an understanding of semaphorin signalling in the spinal cord.
abstract: Semaphorins are a large family of proteins that are classically associated with axon guidance. These proteins and their interacting partners, the neuropilins and plexins are now known to be key mediators in a variety of processes throughout the nervous system ranging from synaptic refinement to the correct positioning of neuronal and glial cell bodies. Recently, much attention has been given to the roles semaphorins play in other body tissues including the immune and vascular systems. This review wishes to draw attention back to the nervous system, specifically focusing on the role of semaphorins in the development of the spinal cord and their proposed roles in the adult. In addition, their functions in spinal cord injury at the glial scar are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aisling M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: O'Malley
authors.affiliation: Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Shanley
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Albert T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: debarry@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Denis S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Barry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D039961:Semaphorins
keywords: Development; Semaphorins; Spinal cord; Spinal cord injury