Single-nuclei sequencing reveals a robust corticospinal response to nearby axotomy but overall insensitivity to spinal injury.

The ability of neurons to sense and respond to damage is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and facilitating nervous system repair. For some cell types, notably dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), extensive profiling has uncovered a significant transcriptional response to axon injury, which influences survival and regenerative outcomes. In contrast, the injury responses of most supraspinal cell types, which display limited regeneration after spinal damage, remain mostly unknown.

Injury distance limits the transcriptional response to spinal injury.

The ability of neurons to sense and respond to damage is fundamental to homeostasis and nervous system repair. For some cell types, notably dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), extensive profiling has revealed a large transcriptional response to axon injury that determines survival and regenerative outcomes. In contrast, the injury response of most supraspinal cell types, whose limited regeneration constrains recovery from spinal injury, is mostly unknown.