Gene expression in neurotrauma

It has been established that following injury to the central nervous system two types of damage take place, the initial insult and the secondary respo nse to injury. This review will focus on the secondary molecular aspects of neurotrauma. These responses may be either deleterious or have protective effects upon the injured cell population. Molecular responses include the r egulation of genes which change cellular architecture, up-regulate of growt h factors, induce reparative stress responses, influence apoptosis and regu late the transcriptional process. The purpose of this study is to provide t he reader with a brief overview of some of the molecular mechanisms which a re activated following a neurological insult.