BACKGROUND:Successful regeneration of the peripheral nervous system relies on the damaged neuronal axons and non-neuronal cells,including Schwann cells and immune cells.The cellular processes that promote or limit axonal regeneration will be instructive in improving prognosis after peripheral nerve injury.OBJECTIVE:To review the mechanisms and recent therapeutic advances in peripheral nerve axonal degeneration and regeneration during Wallerian degeneration.METHODS:Utilizing computer-based searches,relevant articles published between 2004 and 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection,WanFang Database,and CNKI Database.The search terms included"peripheral nerve injury,axon injury,axon degeneration,Wallerian degeneration,cells,mechanism"in English and Chinese.Finally,108 articles were included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Wallerian degeneration is a dynamic cellular process that is tightly regulated at the cellular and molecular levels.By unravelling the major roles and cellular molecular biological basis of Wallerian degeneration,it provides a useful framework for understanding Wallerian and Wallerian-like degeneration and lays the foundation for developing new therapeutic strategies to treat peripheral nerve injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.

BACKGROUND:Successful regeneration of the peripheral nervous system relies on the damaged neuronal axons and non-neuronal cells,including Schwann cells and immune cells.The cellular processes that promote or limit axonal regeneration will be instructive in improving prognosis after peripheral nerve injury.OBJECTIVE:To review the mechanisms and recent therapeutic advances in peripheral nerve axonal degeneration and regeneration during Wallerian degeneration.METHODS:Utilizing computer-based searches,relevant articles published between 2004 and 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection,WanFang Database,and CNKI Database.The search terms included"peripheral nerve injury,axon injury,axon degeneration,Wallerian degeneration,cells,mechanism"in English and Chinese.Finally,108 articles were included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Wallerian degeneration is a dynamic cellular process that is tightly regulated at the cellular and molecular levels.By unravelling the major roles and cellular molecular biological basis of Wallerian degeneration,it provides a useful framework for understanding Wallerian and Wallerian-like degeneration and lays the foundation for developing new therapeutic strategies to treat peripheral nerve injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.