Axonal protein synthesis in central nervous system regeneration: is building an axon a local matter?

Neurons of the mature central nervous system(CNS, mainly the brain and spinal cord) are unable to regenerate spontaneously after a lesion, in contrast to neurons of the peripheral nervous system(PNS). While the extraneuronal environment was long thought to be limiting, evidence was given less than 15 years ago that neurons themselves are critical players of their own regeneration(Park et al., 2008). Indeed, CNS neurons show a decline of axon growth capacity as they mature and after an injury. Today, the role of axonal translation is actively explored in the paradigm of embryonic neuronal growth and in peripheral nerve injury and regeneration, but less is known about the role of local protein synthesis in regrowth of adult CNS axons. Here we discuss how the current understanding of axonal translation in the CNS may contribute to the development of novel strategies to enhance axon regeneration in the injured CNS.