Beneficial and detrimental effects of cytokines after spinal cord injury

Abstract

Cytokines play crucial roles in the pathophysiology after spinal cord injury (SCI). After SCI, there is an activation of resident glial cells such as microglia and astrocytes, as well as an infiltration of blood immune cells. These cells produce sequential segregation of huge amounts of cytokines which stimulate diverse processes. Thus, the proinflammatory and proregenerative actions of these molecules impact on the functional outcome and recovery after a neural trauma. The aim of the present book chapter is to describe the role of cytokines within the progression after the injury as well as to describe the main research findings that envisage them as therapeutic targets to modulate neurodegeneration, promote repair, and improve functional outcomes after SCI.