RECOVERY FROM PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

The peripheral nervous system has the ability to recover after injury[61]

Fortunately the axon of the PNS can "repair themselves" and regain function after injury, which does not occur with CNS axons[61,62].

Spontaneous peripheral nerve repair is possible thanks to the considerable plasticity of Schwann cells. Thus, after a nerve injury, the Schwann cells initiate a repair and regeneration programme that promotes the survival of neurons, the disintegration of the damaged axon and the remyelination of the regenerated axon, among other processes[63].

Both the presence of molecules external to the neuron (extracellular) and the neuron's own growth capacity influence the success of this regenerative process[61].

Neuropathy recovery

Bibliographic references

61. Huebner EA, Strittmatter SM. Axon regeneration in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Results Probl Cell Differ 2009;48:339–51. doi:10.1007/400_2009_19.

62. Mahar M, Cavalli V. Intrinsic mechanisms of neuronal axon regeneration. Nat Rev Neurosci 2018;19:323–37. doi:10.1038/s41583-018-0001-8.

63. Nocera G, Jacob C. Mechanisms of Schwann cell plasticity involved in peripheral nerve repair after injury. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020;77:3977–89. doi:10.1007/s00018-020-03516-9.

 

Revised content: September 16, 2024.