Science：瑞士科研人员在小鼠脊髓损伤模型中实现了神经元再生和步态功能的恢复

瑞士联邦理工学院研究团队在小鼠脊髓损伤模型中实现了神经元再生和步态功能的恢复,这为人类脊髓损伤功能恢复治疗带来重要启示。

研究显示,仅仅使损伤处的神经元随机再生不能提高功能恢复。研究人员通过先进的基因分析技术,确定了与步态功能恢复相关的特定神经元亚群。当他们使用化学信号精准地引导这些关键神经元的轴突再生回其在腰段脊髓的原始靶区时,完全截瘫的小鼠模型出现了明显的步态功能改善。

该研究强调,重建脊髓损伤后神经网络功能的关键,不仅在于轴突能否再生穿过损伤处,更重要的是这些轴突能否被准确引导回到其原始靶区。这一发现为开发脊髓损伤后神经网络重建治疗提供了宝贵的理论基础。

尽管在更大型动物模型中实现轴突的远距离再生仍具挑战性,但研究者相信,应用该研究的原理和技术,有望加速各类中枢神经系统损伤的功能恢复。这项突破性研究为脊髓损伤患者带来希望。

Editor’s summary

Although several experimental approaches have shown positive results in axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI), complete recovery of motor functions remains an elusive target. Squair et al. hypothesized that restoration of complete axonal projection of a selected neuronal population to their natural target could promote better functional recovery. After using single-cell RNA sequencing to identify the most promising neuronal population, the authors showed that promoting axonal growth and path guidance to their natural target in this population restored walking in mice after complete SCI. By contrast, broad axonal restoration across the lesion had no effect, suggesting that a more targeted approach is necessary for functional recovery after SCI. —Mattia Maroso

More information: Jordan W. Squair et al, Recovery of walking after paralysis by regenerating characterized neurons to their natural target region, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi6412. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi6412

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