Labs around the world are seeking ways to encourage nerve fibers to regenerate after a spinal cord injury. In this interesting basic science study, Dr. Yip and colleagues show that the protein NCS1 plays an impressive role in axon regeneration and sprouting.
Nerve cells in the adult corticospinal tract have low intracellular levels of a protein called NCS1 but here the scientists used a non-replicating virus to increase its level. The result was axon growth in both injured and uninjured spinal neurons.
Furthermore, the new processes made functional connections in the spinal cord and led to improved function in the treated animals. The results suggest that therapies to increase NCS1 levels may have future application to human spinal cord injury.
Read the full research article.
Susan P. Howley
Executive Vice President, Research
Reeve Foundation
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