Correlation between immune response and CNS regeneration in vertebrate phylogenesis

Central Nervous System (CNS) neurons in mammals are totally incapable of regenerating their own axons. This incapacity, however, is not due to an intrinsic lack of regenerating power. Literature data in fact demonstrate that the perikaryon of central neurons is capable of regenerating even long sections of axon in the microenvironment of a peripheral nerve graft. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the failure of axonal regeneration in the CNS of mammals. The experimental and natural observations carried out by our research group support the previously advanced hypothesis of an autoimmune regenerative blocking. A hypothesis is proposed based on the balancing of enabling and inhibiting factors, which in mammals is biased in favour of the autoimmune blocking of the enabling factors.