Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Modulation as a Potential Therapy for Traumatic Injury to the Central Nervous System

Compared to the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the central nervous system (CNS) is limited in its ability to regenerate, resulting in chronic deficits that are difficult to treat. Elements of mild plasticity that contribute to functional recovery are observed after injury. Therefore, strategies to enhance plasticity after injury to promote repair and regeneration are key, and this can be accomplished through the modulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the brain and spinal cord. One such strategy utilizes the bacterial enzyme chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) to degrade inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) to produce a growth permissive environment for neurons and their regenerating axons. This review will discuss the pathology behind CNS injury, the role of CSPGs as inhibitors, and the efficacy of modulating CSPGs to promote restorative plasticity and functional recovery after CNS injury.