Today, around 300,000 people live nationwide, the most common cause of spinal cord injuries and respiratory complications, according to the Christopher & Danaleve Foundation.
However, the results of a new study led by researchers at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine show that groups of brain neurons promise interneurons can-can boost breathing when faced with certain physiological challenges such as highly related exercise and environmental conditions.
Researchers believe their findings could lead to therapeutic treatment for spinal cord injury patients who are struggling to breathe on their own. Their findings were recently published in Journal Cell Reports.
We know that the brainstem sets the rhythm of breathing, but the exact pathway that increases the output of respiratory motor neurons has been unclear up to now. ”
Polyxeni Philippidou, Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and Chief Researcher, Department of Neuroscience
The research team included collaborators from the University of St Andrews in the UK, the University of Calgary Canada, and the Academy of Biomedical Research Foundation in Athens, Greece.
the study
By identifying a subset of interneurons as new and potentially accessible points for the treatment of spinal cord injuries and respiratory-related diseases, researchers believe that physicians may be able to develop treatments to improve breathing in people with such conditions.
This study showed that blocking signals from these spinal cord cells make it more difficult for the body to breathe properly if there is too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood, too often a condition known as high carbon dioxide gas.
CO2 is created in the body when cells produce energy. Red blood cells carry CO2 from organs and tissues to the lungs where they exhale. If the body is unable to flow CO2, it can accumulate in the blood, making it difficult to breathe, leading to respiratory failure.
“These spinal cells are important to help the body regulate breathing in response to changes such as high CO2 levels,” says Philippidou.
In this study, the team used a genetically modified mouse model to explore pathways involved in respiration. The researchers mapped neuronal connections, measured neuronal electrical activity, observed model behavior, used microscopes to visualize neuron structures, and visualized functions focused on spinal nerve cells involved in breathing.
“We were able to define the genetic identities, patterns of activity and roles of a special subset of spinal neurons involved in respiratory control,” Philippidou said.
The team is currently testing whether these neurons are targeted for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
CWRU’s legacy of spinal cord research
The School of Medicine’s Neuroscience has been studying motor circuits and spinal cord injuries for over 30 years, starting with the late Jerry Silver, the department’s founding faculty member.
Silver, who passed away in January, was a member of the UK’s International Spinal Research Trust’s Scientific Committee. He was awarded the Christopher Reeve Joan Irvine Research Medal for his significant contributions to promoting the repair of damaged spinal cords.
Additionally, former director Lynn Landmesser, who passed away in late 2024, is a pioneering neuroscientist who helped develop the Cleveland Brain Health Initiative at the School of Medicine. She was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, making a significant contribution to the research of motor circuit development.
sauce:
Case Western Reserve University
Journal Reference:
Lin, M., et al. (2025). Cholinergic spinal pathway for adaptive control of breathing. Cell report. doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116078.
