Gene therapy will restore axons

Scientists from the Dutch University of Neuroscience and Leiden University have shown that the use of gene therapy accelerates recovery after nerve damage.

Nerve damage often occurs as a result of an accident or birth trauma. A common type of injury is damage to nerve fibers in the cervical spine, which may result in the inability to use hands. The only technique that allows to correct this at the moment is surgical intervention, however, it cannot guarantee the complete restoration of limb function. Nerve fibers have to "sprout" over very long distances to reach the muscles, and many neurons that should serve as a starting point for this die. As a result, only a few nerve fibers reach the muscles, and they are not able to ensure the full functioning of the limb.

The use of surgical intervention and gene therapy in combination made it possible to save many dying neurons and stimulate the growth of nerve fibers in the right direction in rats. Scientists have applied a method of regulated gene therapy, in which the expression of the gene encoding the glial neurotrophic factor could be turned on and off if necessary, using an antibiotic.

The researchers also solved the problem of recognizing and destroying the switch by the immune system: they developed a stealth version of it, making therapy even safer.

This variant of gene therapy is not yet ready for use in patients: even after the gene was switched off, scientists found too few of its products. However, the development of a stealth switch is a big step forward, and the authors of the study plan to continue work on optimizing this technique.

Article by Eggers et al. Timed GDNF gene therapy using an immune-evasive gene switch promotes long distance axon regeneration is published in Brain A Journal of Neurology.

Anastasia Poznyak, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru / based on the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience: Gene therapy promotes nerve regeneration.