Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2020, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (9): 1613-1622.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.276323

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Decoding epigenetic codes: new frontiers in exploring recovery from spinal cord injury

Bo-Yin Zhang1 , Peng-Yu Chang2, * , Qing-San Zhu1 , Yu-Hang Zhu1 , Saijilafu3, *   

  1.  1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China 2 Department of Radiotherapy, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China 3 Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Online:2020-09-08 Published:2020-09-24
  • Contact: Saijilafu, MD, PhD, saijilafu@suda.edu.cn; Peng-Yu Chang, PhD, changpengyu@jlu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 81701225 (to BYZ), 81874254 (to PYC), 81571189 and 81772353 (to Saijilafu); the Excellent Youth Grant of Science and Technology Department of Jilin Province of China, No. 20190103077JH (to BYZ); the Bethune Project of Jilin University of China, No. 2015312 (to BYZ).

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Abstract: Spinal cord injury that results in severe neurological disability is often incurable. The poor clinical outcome of spinal cord injury is mainly caused by the failure to reconstruct the injured neural circuits. Several intrinsic and extrinsic determinants contribute to this inability to reconnect. Epigenetic regulation acts as the driving force for multiple pathological and physiological processes in the central nervous system by modulating the expression of certain critical genes. Recent studies have demonstrated that post-SCI alteration of epigenetic landmarks is strongly associated with axon regeneration, glial activation and neurogenesis. These findings not only establish a theoretical foundation for further exploration of spinal cord injury, but also provide new avenues for the clinical treatment of spinal cord injury. This review focuses on the epigenetic regulation in axon regeneration and secondary spinal cord injury. Together, these discoveries are a selection of epigenetic-based prognosis biomarkers and attractive therapeutic targets in the treatment of spinal cord injury.