Post by Lαrα on Jul 7, 2015 1:02:03 GMT -8
Every time research comes up with a 'breakthrough' it seems so promising so lets hope that this new one heralds some change and hope!
The team recorded a regenerative response of CST axons in all 3 samples—showing that PTEN deletion stimulates CST sprouting and regeneration, even though the injury was sustained a long time ago.
"As one of the long descending tracts controlling voluntary movement, the corticospinal tract (CST) plays an important role for functional recovery after spinal cord injury," says Professor Liu. "The regeneration of CST has been a major challenge in the field, especially after chronic injuries. Here we developed a strategy to modulate PTEN/mTOR signaling in adult corticospinal motor neurons in the post-injury paradigm."
Furthermore, the deletion up-regulated the activity of another gene, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which promoted regeneration of CST axons. Axons transmit information to different neurons, muscles, and glands; as bundles they help make up nerves.
Led by Kai Liu, PhD, the study's senior author and assistant professor in life sciences at HKUST, the research team initiated PTEN deletion on mice after pyramidotomy. Similar treatment procedures were carried out on a 2nd group 4 months after severe spinal cord injuries, and a 3rd group after 12 months.
The team recorded a regenerative response of CST axons in all 3 samples—showing that PTEN deletion stimulates CST sprouting and regeneration, even though the injury was sustained a long time ago.
SOURCE
