Genes That Repair Injured Nerves Identified

Researchers from the University of California/San Diego (UCSD; California, USA) team have identified more than 70 genes involved in regenerating nerves after injury, suggesting possible avenues for new therapies to repair spinal cord injuries and other kinds of nerve damage such as stroke. Andrew Chisholm and colleagues completed a two-year investigation of 654 genes suspected to be involved in regulating the growth of axons — the thread-like extensions of nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses to other nerve cells. From their large-scale genetic screen, the researchers identified 70 genes that promote axon growth after injury and six more genes that repress the re-growth of axons. Of particular interest to the team are the six genes that appear to repress the growth of axons, because identifying and eliminating the inhibiting factors to the re-growth of axons represents a key discovery that may help to develop new therapies to promote axon re-growth in repairing spinal cord injuries and other kinds of nerve damage.