The results of the study were published in the journal PLOS Biology.
Lead author Dr. Simone Di Giovanni, of Imperial College London, said: “This work shows a drug called TTK21 that is administered systemically once a week after a chronic spinal cord injury in animals can promote neuronal regrowth and an increase in synapses that are needed for neuronal transmission.” He added that “this is important because chronic spinal cord injury is a condition without a cure where neuronal regrowth and repair fail.”
Damage to the spinal cord interrupts the constant stream of electrical signals from the brain to the body. It can lead to paralysis below an injury. The medication triggers cells to regenerate. Long spindly parts of the severed nerves—called axons—were mended.
Currently, spinal cord injury does not have any effective treatments. Physical rehabilitation can help patients regain some mobility. But for severe cases, the outcomes are extremely limited by the failure of spinal neurons to regenerate naturally.
The study showed TTK21 aided the regrowth of sensory and motor neurons when given to mice 12 weeks after severe injury.
In experiments, lab rodents with severe spinal cord injury lived in an enriched environment that gave them opportunities to be physically active—as is encouraged in human patients.
Treatment lasted for 10 weeks. Several improvements were identified—the most noticeable being the sprouting of more axons in the spinal cord. Retraction of motor axons above the point of injury was also halted—and sensory axon growth increased.
These changes were likely due to the observed increase in gene expression related to regeneration, said Dr. Di Giovanni.
He added: “We are now exploring the combination of this drug with strategies that bridge the spinal cord gap such as biomaterials as possible avenues to improve disability in SCI [spinal cord injury] patients.”
For decades, this has remained a major challenge. Our body’s central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, does not have any significant capacity to repair itself.
In the U.K., an estimated 50,000 people are living with an SCI. Each year approximately 2,500 people are newly injured. It affects nearly 300,000 in the U.S. Life for these patients can be extraordinarily difficult.
Fewer than 3 percent ever recover basic physical functions. A third are re-hospitalized at least once a year.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker.
This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.
