Remodeling of bowel and bladder functions in spinal cord injury: revisiting the role of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolites – BBSCI

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in multi-organ impairment leading to increased risk of morbidity, mortality and disability. Symptoms resulting from spinal cord injury include pelvic (urological and digestive) disorders, which also have a major impact on the quality of life of SCI persons. To date, there is no effective or sustainable treatment for bowel and bladder disorders. A better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these disorders is therefore a key step towards developing new therapeutic strategies to restore the function of these organs. Thus, the BBSCI project relies on state-of-the-art tools (RNASeq-lipidomics-organoids-FFOCT imaging) applied to the study of SCI animal model and biocollection of spinal cord injury tissues and controls to : 1) identify and characterise the nature of remodelling of colonic and urothelial epithelial barrier functions as well as the enteric nervous system, a key player in the regulation of digestive functions, and identify the mechanisms and pathways responsible; 2) to characterise the changes in the profile of colon and bladder polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolites; 3) to identify their candidate role as a new therapeutic agent to restore colonic and bladder function in the SCI model; and finally 4) to identify and characterise the alterations in colonic and urothelial barrier functions and candidate mediators in people suffering from spinal cord injury (traumatic or congenital (spina bifida)). This project will provide original insights into the pathophysiology of bowel and bladder disorders in SCI and will provide the scientific rationale for identifying new therapeutic targets to restore pelvic function in these individuals.