TABLE 1.

Genetic or pharmacologic loss-of-function experiments have revealed vital neuroprotective functions of glial and stromal responses to SCI.

Cell type	Reference	Loss of function model	Impact on SCI outcome
Astrocytes	Faulkner et al., 2004	TK+ GCV	Failure of wound contraction Prolonged neuronal loss Persistent neurological deficits
Astrocytes	Anderson et al., 2016	TK+ GCV, stat3-cKO	Failure of axonal regrowth Significant increase in axonal dieback
Astrocytes	Wanner et al., 2013	Stat3-cKO	Poorly demarcated scar border with extensive spread of inflammatory cells
Microglia	Bellver-Landete et al., 2019	PLX5622	Impaired locomotor recovery following SCI Impaired astrocyte proliferation Decreased survival of neurons and oligodendrocytes at site of injury
Microglia	Zhou X. et al., 2020	Plxnb2-cKO	Significant impairment in sensorimotor recovery Impaired wound compaction leading to enlargement of SCI lesion
OPC	Hesp et al., 2018	NG2 TK+ GCV	Enlarged lesions with edema Prolonged hemorrhage Inhibition of angiogenesis at site of lesion
OPC	Bartus et al., 2019	ErbB-cKO	Impaired locomotor recovery
Stromal cells	Yokota et al., 2017	Postn-KO	Decreased fibrotic scar formation Impaired functional recovery