REGENERATING FUNCTIONAL NEURONS FOR TREATMENT OF SPINAL CORD INJURY AND ALS

摘要

This document provides methods and materials involved in treating mammals having a spinal cord injury (SCI). For example, methods and materials for administering a composition containing exogenous nucleic acid encoding a NeuroD1polypeptide (or a biologically active fragment thereof) alone or in combination with a Dlx2 polypeptide (or a biologically active fragment thereof) to a mammal having SCI are provided. This document also provides methods and materials involved in treating mammals having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). For example, methods and materials for administering a composition containing exogenous nucleic acid encoding a NeuroD1 polypeptide (or a biologically active fragment thereof) alone or in combination with an Isl1 polypeptide (or a biologically active fragment thereof) to a mammal having ALS are provided.