Therapeutic strategy to promote regeneration of the injured central nervous system

摘要

Spontaneous regeneration of lesioned fibers is limited in the adult central nervous system due to an unfavorable environment. Several myelin-derived proteins have been identified to inhibit neurite outgrowth in vitro. These proteins induce activation of Rho in some neurons. Inhibition of Rho or Rho-kinase, downstream effector of Rho, promotes axon regeneration in vivo. Recent reports suggest that several other proteins are axon growth inhibitors. Therapeutic strategy to block the multiple axon growth inhibitors may provide efficient tools that produce functional regeneration following injuries to the central nervous system. In addition, it is noted that synaptic plasticity in pre-existing pathways and the formation of new circuits through collateral sprouting of lesioned and unlesioned fibers are important components of the recovery process.