KEYWORDS

Neuroinflammation      Spinal cord injury     CNS trauma    Neurodegeneration    

Myelin debris      Phagocytes       Pathogenic phagocytosis   

Dr. Yi Ren directs a group interested in the molecular cell biology of inflammation, especially in CNS trauma and disease.

Currently, our group is investigating the roles of the various cell types present within the CNS in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury. 

Various CNS diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, and traumas like spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are classified as demyelinating and are characterized by the loss of this myelin axonal sheath coverage and the generation of what is known as myelin debris. Beyond the serious implications of the loss of myelin’s canonical function, many studies now show that the myelin debris generated in these pathological conditions may contribute to the pathology and progression of many CNS diseases, some through its interaction and uptake by various CNS cells. These interactions promote various pathologic consequences, such as chronic inflammation, the inability of oligodendrocytes to re-myelinate axons, and the prevention of neurite growth.