Cancer Drug Brings Hope in Spinal Cord Injury
Mar 18, 2015 2:41:43 GMT -8
Post by Lαrα on Mar 18, 2015 2:41:43 GMT -8
This may be one to watch!
Armed with the knowledge that it is indeed possible to boost axon regeneration, an international team of scientists, led by researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, aimed to find a way to achieve this outcome but with a clinically feasible technique. They decided to investigate the potential of a class of FDA-approved anticancer drugs called epothilones, which are not only capable of reaching the brain, but also act to stabilize microtubules.
The researchers therefore administered one of these drugs, called epitholone B, to rats with spinal cord injuries and monitored their progress.
They found that those treated with epothilone B showed a significant reduction in scar tissue at the site of trauma, which is important since this tissue contains axon growth inhibitory factors.
They discovered that this was the result of the drug inhibiting the microtubules from forming within the scar tissue-producing cells, which prevented them from migrating towards the injury site. Concomitantly, epothilone B also promoted microtubule extension within the tips of nerve cell axons, which propelled their growth and thus assisted their regeneration.
The researchers therefore administered one of these drugs, called epitholone B, to rats with spinal cord injuries and monitored their progress.
They found that those treated with epothilone B showed a significant reduction in scar tissue at the site of trauma, which is important since this tissue contains axon growth inhibitory factors.
They discovered that this was the result of the drug inhibiting the microtubules from forming within the scar tissue-producing cells, which prevented them from migrating towards the injury site. Concomitantly, epothilone B also promoted microtubule extension within the tips of nerve cell axons, which propelled their growth and thus assisted their regeneration.
The researchers investigated whether the drug also benefitted their motor function. Using a clinically relevant spinal cord injury model, the researchers found that epothilone B improved both walking balance and coordination in the animals, which is promising.
The researchers would therefore like to continue their work by investigating the drug’s efficacy in different types of injury.
The researchers would therefore like to continue their work by investigating the drug’s efficacy in different types of injury.
