A therapy combining salmon fibrin injections into the spinal cord and injections of a gene inhibitor into the brain restored voluntary motor function impaired by spinal cord injury, scientists at UC Irvine’s Reeve-Irvine Research Center have found.
In a study on rodents, Gail Lewandowski and Oswald Steward achieved this breakthrough by turning back the developmental clock in a molecular pathway critical to the formation of corticospinal tractnerve connections and providing a scaffold so that neuronal axons at the injury site could grow and link up again.
Results appear in the July 23 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
The work expands on previous research at UCI. In 2010, Steward helped discover that axons flourishafter the deletion of an enzyme called PTEN, which controls a molecular pathway regulating cell growth. PTEN activity is low during early development, allowing cell proliferation. PTEN subsequently turns on, inhibiting this pathway and precluding any ability to regenerate.
Two years later, a UCI team found that salmon fibrin injected into rats with spinal cord injury filled cavities at the injury site, giving axons a framework in which to reconnect and facilitate recovery. Fibrin is a stringy, insoluble protein produced by the blood clotting process and is used as a surgical glue.
“This is a major next step in our effort to identify treatments that restore functional losses suffered by those with spinal cord injury,” said Steward, professor of anatomy & neurobiology and director of the Reeve-Irvine Research Center, of the current findings. “Paralysis and loss of function from spinal cord injury has been considered irreversible, but our discovery points the way toward a potential therapy to induce regeneration of nerve connections.”
Read more . . .
The Latest on: Spinal cord injury
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Spinal cord injury” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Spinal cord injury
- Engineers develop ‘wraparound’ device for spinal cord monitoring and treatmenton May 8, 2024 at 11:03 am
This approach inspired by microelectronics involves wrapping very thin, high-resolution implants around the whole spinal cord.
- Spinal Cord Injury : What Is It & Treatmentson May 7, 2024 at 2:28 pm
Overview Physical damage to the spinal cord which interfere with normal motor, sensory or autonomic function. Symptoms It can result in permanent motor, sensory disability. → Common treatment options ...
- Spinal red-light therapy protects and regenerates damaged nerve cellson May 6, 2024 at 11:15 pm
Directly applying red-light therapy to a damaged spinal cord protects and regenerates nerve cells, leading to a return of motor and sensory function, according to new research. The treatment could ...
- Red light therapy for repairing spinal cord injury passes milestoneon May 6, 2024 at 6:43 am
Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) could benefit from a future treatment to repair nerve connections using red and near-infrared light.
- Fan suffers ‘catastrophic spinal cord injury’ at Aussie rock band Trophy Eyes’ US showon May 5, 2024 at 3:41 am
A fan has suffered a “catastrophic spinal cord injury” when the lead singer of Aussie rock band Trophy Eyes stage-dived during a show in Buffalo, New York last week. Bird Piche, 24, suffered the major ...
- Spinal Cord Injury Damages Metabolism, and Scientists Now Know Whyon April 28, 2024 at 11:41 pm
Spinal Cord Injury Damages Metabolism, and Scientists Now Know Why By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, April 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with a spinal cord injury frequently ...
- Revolutionizing Spinal Injury Treatment: Common Drug Found To Prevent Damage to Fat Tissueon April 27, 2024 at 10:17 pm
Study in mice finds that a widely-used medication prevents damage to fat tissue from injuries A new animal study suggests that conditions like diabetes, heart attacks, and vascular diseases, commonly ...
- Brainless memory makes the spinal cord smarter than previously thoughton April 26, 2024 at 8:49 am
Researchers have discovered the neural circuitry in the spinal cord that allows brain-independent motor learning. The study found two critical groups of spinal cord neurons, one necessary for new ...
- After spinal cord injury, neurons wreak havoc on metabolismon April 24, 2024 at 10:48 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Conditions such as diabetes, heart attack and vascular diseases commonly diagnosed in people with spinal cord injuries can be traced to abnormal post-injury neuronal activity ...
- After spinal cord injury, neurons wreak havoc on metabolism: Study finds common drug may prevent some of the effectson April 24, 2024 at 10:14 am
Conditions such as diabetes, heart attack, and vascular diseases commonly diagnosed in people with spinal cord injuries can be traced to abnormal post-injury neuronal activity that causes abdominal ...
via Bing News
