MINI REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Molecular Innate Immunity
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1621789
This article is part of the Research TopicExploring Microglial Diversity and Its Impact on Neurological DiseasesView all articles
Evolving insights on the role of microglia in neuroinflammation, plasticity, and regeneration of the injured spinal cord
Provisionally accepted
Emily A Swarts
Faith H Brennan*- Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
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Microglia have emerged as central players in the pathophysiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of this brief review is to highlight the evolution of knowledge on the role of microglia in SCI. We explore the initial discovery of macrophages and their role in SCI lesions, followed by how microglia were examined and distinguished from monocyte-derived macrophages. We then discuss findings from studies that mapped and manipulated microglia in experimental SCI, made possible through technological advances in genetic, pharmacological, and bioinformatic approaches. We also highlight the importance of considering how the timing and location of microglia activation shapes neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity and intraspinal circuit remodelling. Finally, as microglia research continues to flourish, we consider how microglia could be harnessed therapeutically to promote repair and functional recovery of motor, sensory, and autonomic systems after SCI.
Keywords: Microglia, Astrogliosis, neurotrauma, demyelination, axon regeneration
Received: 01 May 2025; Accepted: 28 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Swarts and Brennan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Faith H Brennan, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
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