This is not a comprehensive list of all possible interventions. The first two approaches have a common goal of reducing the extent of the initial injury and preventing secondary damage, loss of intact axons and death of neurons. Limiting degeneration will likely involve interventions to prevent cell death. Recent work has shown that at least three different mechanisms of cell death play a role in neuron and oligodendrocyte loss after spinal cord injury, primary necrosis, excitotoxicity, and apoptosis. Additionally, we now understand that there is a need to treat the inflammation response after spinal cord injury, which may contribute to secondary injury.
Research also shows that proteins from the immune system invade the injured zone.
Soon after injury, the spinal cord swells as part of the inflammatory response. This swelling and inflammation may foster secondary damage to the cord after the initial injury. Labs studying this approach include the Schwab Lab and the Cotman Lab. This approach involves regulation of neurotrophin expression, understanding and manipulating guidance and substrate interactions, and overcoming the influence of inhibitory molecules expressed in the injured spinal cord. Each neurotrophin has very specific target cell functions.