Intrinsic Neuronal Mechanisms in Axon Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury

Axon transection and failure of axon regeneration after spinal cord injury result in permanent functional deficits. Previous focus on blocking the inhibitory environment turns out to be insufficient to achieve robust axon regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). Loss of intrinsic axon growth ability in adult CNS neurons might also play a critical role in underlying such regeneration failure. Based on recently revealed mechanistic insights about intrinsic ability controls, several experimental strategies have been devised to promote injured axons to regenerate with large quantities and long distance, and may provide important therapeutic approaches to recovering function after spinal cord injury.