A Review of Pathophysiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Omics Approaches of Spinal Cord Injury

Patel, Milan; Deng, Alison J.; Hasoon, Jamal; Wahezi, Sayed; Abd-Elsayed, Alaa

doi:10.3390/ijms26167895

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Open AccessReview

A Review of Pathophysiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Omics Approaches of Spinal Cord Injury

by

Milan Patel

¹,

Alison J. Deng

²

,

Jamal Hasoon

³,

Sayed Wahezi

⁴ and

Alaa Abd-Elsayed

^1,*

¹

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53726, USA

²

Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA

³

Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA

⁴

Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine, Anesthesiology, and Orthopedic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7895; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167895

Submission received: 19 June 2025 / Revised: 12 August 2025 / Accepted: 14 August 2025 / Published: 15 August 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comprehensive Insights into Molecular Mechanisms and Pathophysiology of Spinal Cord Injury)

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Abstract

Spinal cord injuries are often devastating and result in severe functional limitations. Our review breaks down the pathophysiology, molecular mechanisms, and omics approaches regarding spinal cord injuries. The pathophysiology can be divided into two main phases, with the secondary phase being of greater interest. Understanding the underlying mechanisms behind these phases allows for targeted approaches to be developed. Advancements in omics technologies (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) are excellent tools in creating tailored spinal cord injury treatment plans. Emerging therapeutic solutions involving ion imbalance, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction also show promising results. Mitochondrial transplantation has shown promising initial results in maintaining cellular homeostasis and reducing inflammation. However, significant challenges remain in translating the omics and therapeutic approaches from animal models to clinical trials.

Keywords: spinal cord injury (SCI); pathophysiology; molecular mechanisms; omics; genomics; proteomics; metabolomics; neuroinflammation; mitochondrial dysfunction; biomarkers

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MDPI and ACS Style

Patel, M.; Deng, A.J.; Hasoon, J.; Wahezi, S.; Abd-Elsayed, A. A Review of Pathophysiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Omics Approaches of Spinal Cord Injury. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 7895. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167895

AMA Style

Patel M, Deng AJ, Hasoon J, Wahezi S, Abd-Elsayed A. A Review of Pathophysiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Omics Approaches of Spinal Cord Injury. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(16):7895. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167895

Chicago/Turabian Style

Patel, Milan, Alison J. Deng, Jamal Hasoon, Sayed Wahezi, and Alaa Abd-Elsayed. 2025. "A Review of Pathophysiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Omics Approaches of Spinal Cord Injury" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 16: 7895. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167895

APA Style

Patel, M., Deng, A. J., Hasoon, J., Wahezi, S., & Abd-Elsayed, A. (2025). A Review of Pathophysiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Omics Approaches of Spinal Cord Injury. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(16), 7895. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167895

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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A Review of Pathophysiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Omics Approaches of Spinal Cord Injury

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