Neuroprotective and Neurorestorative Processes after Spinal Cord Injury: The Case of the Bulbospinal Respiratory Neurons

Figure 2

Diagram showing the induction of neuroprotection and neuroplasticity of phrenic premotoneurons after a cervical spinal cord injury. The injury-induced neuroplasticity through GAP43 expression involves JNK activation, c-Jun and ATF3 activation, and HSP27 induction. JNK can also be activated by tyrosine kinase receptor (Trk-R). The injury-induced neuroprotection involves BDNF increase, activation of TrK-R, activation of PI3K-Akt, and phosphorylation of FKHR. The pathway inducing HSP27 is also known to be involved in neuroprotection.