Neurotrauma and Inflammation: CNS and PNS Responses

Figure 4

Commonalities (in black) and differences (in red) between SCI and peripheral nerve injury (PNI). Soon after a traumatic injury, both spinal cord and peripheral nerves elicit a rapid and robust inflammatory response (acute phase), whereas at later time points (chronic phase) SCI presents a second wave of inflammatory cells recruitment, which is detrimental to axon regeneration. Conversely, in peripheral nerves there is a marked resolution of the inflammatory response, which is correlated with successful regenerative process. Green and blue backgrounds represent the inflammatory curves after SCI and PNI, respectively.