Research Progress on Treating Spinal Cord Injury by Modulating the Phenotype of Microglia

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe central nervous system disorder with no currently available effective treatment. Microglia are immune cells in the central nervous system that play crucial roles in the SCI occurrence, development, and recovery stages. They exhibit dynamic polarization over time and can switch between classical activation (M1) and alternative activation (M2) phenotypes to respond to environmental stimuli. The M1 phenotype is involved in initiating and sustaining inflammatory responses, while the M2 phenotype exerts anti-inflammatory effects and promotes tissue repair in damaged areas. Inhibiting M1 polarization and promoting M2 polarization have become hotspots in regulating neuroinflammation and treating SCI. This article provides a comprehensive review centered on modulating microglial polarization phenotypes for SCI treatment.