Elucidating the Role of Apolipoprotein E Isoforms in Spinal Cord Injury-Associated Neuropathology

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating, life-altering, neurological event that affects ∼300,000 individuals in the United States. Currently, there are no effective treatments to reverse the neurological impairments caused by the lesion. Until a cure is available, there is an urgent need for strategies that can either spare injured neurons or promote neuroplasticity and functional recovery. Genetic links to outcomes after SCI may provide insights into the pathological mechanisms, and possible new avenues for drug development. In the present review, we discuss the current knowledge linking apolipoprotein E genotypes with better or worse functional outcomes after an SCI, and the possible molecular mechanisms that may contribute to this association.