journal article·2026-01Open access

Disrupting CSPG‐Driven Microglia–Astrocyte Crosstalk Enables Scar‐Free Repair in Spinal Cord Injury

Yufei Zheng, Zhaowei Zhang, Zezhou Fu, Qingqing Wang, Siwen Zhang, Tingyu Zhang, Meifei Zhu, Shunwu Fan, Youqing Shen, Jiajia Xiang, Xin Liu

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 6

Abstract

Abstract Glial scar formation represents a significant obstacle to neural regeneration following spinal cord injury (SCI), evolving from a protective glial response in the acute phase to a fibrotic and inhibitory barrier in the chronic stage. In this study, chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are identified as key regulators of scar maturation via a pathogenic microglia–astrocyte axis. CSPGs promote the transition of reactive astrocytes (RAs) into scar‐forming astrocytes (SAs) by inducing a pro‐inflammatory microglial phenotype. Mechanistically, CSPGs suppress cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme activity in microglia, disrupting metabolic homeostasis and perpetuating inflammatory responses. Targeted degradation of CSPGs reprogrammes microglia toward an anti‐inflammatory state, thereby attenuating SA differentiation and fibrotic matrix deposition. To enable spatiotemporally precise intervention, a reactive oxygen species‐responsive, connective tissue growth factor‐binding fusogenic lipopolyplex for RA‐targeted delivery of the chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) gene is designed. This platform selectively degrades CSPGs at the lesion border, interrupts the maladaptive glial feedback loop, and facilitates scar‐free repair after SCI. These findings reveal a metabolic mechanism underlying glial scarring and propose a precision nanotherapeutic strategy to modulate the SCI microenvironment, thereby enhancing neuronal regeneration and functional recovery.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nerve injury and regeneration · Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research · Spinal Cord Injury Research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine Hangzhou Zhejiang 310016 China

Key Laboratory of Mechanism Research and Precision Repair of Orthopaedic Trauma and Aging Diseases of Zhejiang Province Hangzhou Zhejiang 310016 China

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials and Center for Bionanoengineering College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang 310027 China

College of Animal Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province

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