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. 2022 Jan 26;15:573–593. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S349572

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© 2022 Pang et al.

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Schematic depicting the activation and migration of resident and peripheral immune cells following SCI. After primary injury, resident astrocytes, microglia, and other glial cells are immediately activated and migrate to the injury site (top). Subsequently, peripheral inflammatory cells including neutrophils, bone marrow-derived macrophages, and lymphocytes infiltrate into the epicenter of the injured spinal cord, and these activated immune cells can exacerbate damage, causing a wider range of secondary injury. Glial cells (mainly astrocytes) form glial scar to seclude the damaged area, and microglia are mainly present around the injury site (middle). These persistent pathophysiological changes ultimately result in severe dysfunction below the damaged segment (bottom).