The Relationship Between Lipids and Lipoproteins in Spinal Cord Injury: A review

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in disrupted neuronal communication between the brain and the peripheral organs due to impairment of neuronal function below the site of injury. SCI triggers a cascade of molecular events, including an imbalance in lipid metabolism, which can exacerbate tissue damage and impede neurological recovery. Lipids are crucial for cellular and tissue maintenance in the central nervous system (CNS). They are physical and structural elements of cell membranes, offering fluidity and integrity, and myelin sheaths, allowing for more rapid propagation of electrical signals and enabling the nervous system to function properly. Lipids also function as signaling and energy storage molecules essential for proper CNS function and health. Lipid dysregulation in CNS following spinal cord injury (SCI) is a critical area of study due to its significant impact on cellular environments and subsequent recovery processes. Research indicates that targeting lipid dysregulation could offer a promising avenue for mitigating the secondary damage resulting from SCI and improving overall recovery. Understanding the intricate link between SCI and lipids is important to the development of targeted therapies that modulate lipid metabolism for improved outcomes. This article reviews the current understanding of the relationship between SCI, lipids, and lipoproteins and the potential to target lipids in future SCI treatment mechanisms.