Editorial: Plasticity and Reconstruction of Neural Network in Brain Injury

Damages in the motorsensory cortex result in motor and sensory dysfunction of limbs despite normal structure of the spine, peripheral nervous system, bones, and muscles. [...]the repair and reconstruction of the injured neural network is the ultimate goal for the treatment of brain injury. The plasticity found in brain injury differs from the regeneration seen in spinal cord injury: it occurs in a complex environment that includes neural stem cells, injured neurons (surviving bodies and dead axons or synapses), denervated intact neurons, and numerous glial cells. [...]reconstruction of the neural network after brain injury is affected by multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms, and the synergy among these factors contributes to the reconstruction and recovery of function. [...]arteriogenesis (i.e. collateral artery growth, a process in which pre-existing collateral arterioles transform into functional collateral arteries) plays an important role in maintaining cerebral blood flow and improving the microenvironment in ischemic regions after brain injury (Sugiyama et al., 2011). [...]in order to create a suitable microenvironment for neural plasticity and repair, we must promote the favorable factors and inhibit the adverse factors simultaneously. The new neurons can incorporate into network circuitry, the oligodendrocytes can repair myelin sheaths, and the astrocytes can support, protect, and nourish neural networks in reconstruction. Because of the low immunogenicity and good histocompatibility as well as self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation potential, exogenous NSC transplantation has been used as a treatment for various neurological diseases.