Pyroptosis in Spinal Cord Injury: Implications for Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches

Abstract

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious disease of the central nervous system. Aside from the limited intrinsic regenerative capacity of neurons, complex microenvironmental disturbances can also lead to further cellular damage and growth inhibition. Programmed cell death regulated by pyroptosis has an important role in the pathogenesis of SCI. While there has been a wealth of new knowledge regarding cellular pyroptosis, a detailed understanding of its role in SCI and possible therapeutic strategies is still lacking. This review summarizes current advances in the regulatory role of pyroptosis-regulated cell death and inflammasome components in the inhibitory microenvironment following SCI, as well as recent therapeutic advances.