The nervous system was traditionally investigated by focusing primarily on neurons as main
functional units (“neurocentric” view)(1). Recently, this standpoint has changed, and glial
cells are now recognized as active participants in virtually all functions of the nervous
system. Neurons, which could arguably be considered the least self-sufficient cells in the
body, need glia for development, function, maintenance, and plasticity (2-6). However, in
central nervous system (CNS) insults the key homeostatic functions of glia may be …

The toolkit for repairing damaged neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal
cord injury (SCI) is extremely limited. Here, we reviewed the in vitro and in vivo studies and
clinical trials on nonneuronal cells in the neurodegenerative processes common to both
these conditions. Special focus was directed to microglia and astrocytes, because their
activation and proliferation, also known as neuroinflammation, is a key driver of
neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation is a multifaceted process that evolves during the …