Myofibroblasts generate fibrotic scars after spinal cord injury (SCI). This is typically regarded as an impediment to nerve regeneration. Understanding the heterogeneous characteristics of fibrotic scars might help to develop strategies for remodeling fibrotic scars after SCI.
However, the composition, origin and function of fibrotic scars have been a subject of ongoing debate in the field. A recent study led by Profs. Dai Jianwu and Zhao Yannan from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences employed a combination of lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to demonstrate the heterogeneous distribution, source, and function of meningeal fibroblasts and perivascular fibroblasts in fibrotic scars.
Their research is published in the journal Nature Communications . Previous studies have reported that in non-penetrating spinal cord injuries, myofibroblasts primarily originate from perivascular fibroblasts (PF), whereas in penetrating spinal cord injuries, they mainly arise from meningeal fibroblasts (MF). However, certain studies have suggested that in both penetrating and non-penetrating spinal cord injuries , myofibroblasts in fibrotic scars predominantly originate from GLAST+ type A pericytes.
Prior research demonstrated that the complete removal of fibrous scars often results in a large cavity and is not conducive to injury repair. Conversely, a partial reduction of scars can enhance axon regeneration and functiona.