A future cure for paralysis? Scientists discover a way to repair axon fibers in the nerves of a damaged spine that don’t regenerate naturally
- Scientists have discovered a molecule that can repair damage to the spine after a serious injury
- Dubbed TTK21, it can stimulate repair of axons lacking regenerative capabilities, opening the door to motor function recovery
- However, mice tested with the molecule failed to regain the ability to walk, so this was just the beginning of a treatment to cure paralysis
- The molecule has previously shown success in healing axons in the spine when applied immediately after a severe spinal injury
Scientists have found a way to repair damaged fibers in the spine that don’t repair themselves after significant injury, which could be an important step in reversing some forms of paralysis.
A team from Imperial College London in England was able to stimulate the regeneration of axon fibers in the spine of mice three months after they suffered a devastating spinal injury that left them unable to walk. These fibers do not have regenerative properties and will
While the mice didn’t regain their ability to walk, this was the first time doctors were able to repair these fibers in the spine, which opened the door for further research into repairing damage caused by spinal cord injury (SCI).
An estimated 300,000 Americans suffer from SCI, with approximately 18,000 cases registered each year. While physical therapy and other forms of treatment can help a person slowly regain some function, there are no reliable ways to repair a damaged spine and heal a person from SCI.
Researchers found that the TTK21 molecule can repair axons in the spine that don’t normally regenerate after a serious spinal injury. However, mice included in the study that saw their spines recover were unable to walk again (file photo).
In a study published Tuesday in PLOS, researchers tested whether the molecule TTK21 could be used to activate axon regeneration in mice suffering from SCI.
In previous studies, researchers found that the molecule would be up to the task if applied shortly after an injury, but there were no data on whether it would be effective in chronic spinal cord injury.
Each of the mice was treated for ten weeks, half with TTK21 and the other with a control treatment.
After completing the treatment, the researchers noticed that new axons were sprouting in the spinal cord.
Axons are fibers responsible for transmitting signals and impulses between nerve cells.
When the body is damaged, it can no longer send signals from the brain through the nervous system, making motor functions impossible.
They don’t repair themselves when damaged, causing both permanent and devastating damage to the nervous system—and particularly the spinal cord, where many nerves connect to the brain.
Axons affected by the injury also stopped retracting, and sensory axon growth among the treated mice also increased.
Unfortunately, despite the axon growth, the paralyzed mice could not walk again and showed no real improvements in motor function.
The researchers still hope that TTK21 can serve as a basis for the treatment of paralysis in the future.
“This work shows that a drug called TTK21, administered systemically once a week after chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) in animals, can promote neuronal regrowth and an increase in synapses needed for neuronal transmission,” Simone Di Giovanni, senior researcher from the college, said in a statement.
“This is important because chronic spinal cord injury is an incurable condition in which nerve cell regrowth and repair fail.
“We are now investigating the combination of this drug with strategies that close the gap in the spinal cord, such as biomaterials, as potential avenues to improve disability in SCI patients.”
Spinal injuries are devastating and more common than some realize. The Miami Project reports that approximately 300,000 Americans are currently living with a spinal injury.
Around 17,000 more suffer an injury each year. The vast majority of cases, 80 percent, affect men.
In 20 percent of cases, the injured person suffers complete paraplegia – complete loss of movement below the drop.
There are currently no drugs to treat SCI, and instead patients undergo years of physical therapy if they hope to recover.
