Unveiling the Inflammatory Role of Ependymal Cells in Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Ependymal cells are located around the central canal of the spinal cord. Although previous studies have suggested that certain ependymal cell subpopulations may contribute to astroglial scar formation following spinal cord injury (SCI), their potential involvement in post-injury inflammatory responses remains incompletely understood. Methods: In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) identified an inflammation-associated ependymal cell subpopulation characterized by elevated expression of multiple inflammatory genes. Results: Receptor–ligand interaction analysis further predicted enhanced ligand–receptor interactions between ependymal cells and monocytes, particularly through the Thbs1-Sdc4 and Fn1-Sdc4 signaling axes at 1 day post-injury (dpi). Conclusions: These findings suggest previously underappreciated heterogeneity within ependymal cells and imply that specific subpopulations may participate in the neuroinflammatory microenvironment after SCI. Moreover, the Thbs1-Sdc4 and Fn1-Sdc4 pathways may represent potential targets for future immunomodulatory strategies following spinal cord injury.