Motor neurons: From developmental biology and plasticity to injury classification, regenerative mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies.

Authors

Ye Zhu, Meiyuan Li, Zhongpeng Wang, Xiaosong Gu

Published in

Neurobiology of disease. Pages 107511. Jun 27, 2026. Epub Jun 27, 2026.

Abstract

Within the central nervous system (CNS), motor neurons constitute the principal and highly specialized functional units responsible for the precise regulation of somatic motor activity. Their developmental processes and plasticity mechanisms directly underpin the establishment and maintenance of neural circuits. This review offers a focused overview of the developmental processes and functional characteristics of motor neurons, while clarifying the definition of motor neuron plasticity. It further elucidates the intricate interplay between plastic alterations and the onset of injury, whereby aberrant plasticity acts as both a critical determinant in motor neuron injury and an accelerator of motor function deterioration. Building on these insights, the review constructs a multidimensional classification framework of motor neuron injury and further elaborates on the core molecular mechanisms of motor neuron regeneration, including signaling pathway regulation, epigenetic modifications, and maintenance of microenvironmental homeostasis. Conclusively, it summarizes the existing therapeutic strategies for motor neuron injury-related disorders, such as targeted gene therapy, cell replacement therapy, and neuromodulation technology, while dissecting the intervention mechanisms and limitations of each strategy. Although extensive studies have separately investigated various aspects of motor neurons, this review establishes a comprehensive framework that integrates findings from developmental mechanisms to therapeutic strategies and provides a comprehensive theoretical reference for future research on precision therapeutics, and facilitates bridging preclinical research and clinical translation.

PMID:
42364823
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 28 Jun 2026.

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