A recent study published by researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has shed new light on the potential treatment for spinal cord injuries using a gene-based approach. The research focuses on lipin1, a novel gene that regulates axon regeneration in the central nervous system.
The study reveals that inhibiting lipin1 enhances lipid metabolism in neurons, activating crucial pathways like mTOR and STAT3 that promote nerve regeneration. This approach significantly improved axon regeneration in the spinal cord, suggesting a potential new treatment for CNS injuries. The findings pave the way for further research on spinal cord injury therapies using this gene-based method.
Researchers at HKUST designed a novel shRNA targeting lipin1 mRNA and encapsulated it in an AAV vector for delivery to neurons. This reduced lipin1 levels by 63%, leading to increased activation of mTOR and STAT3 signaling pathways, which significantly boosted nerve regeneration.
The study found that lipin1 knockdown (KD) promoted robust corticospinal tract axon regeneration and enhanced sensory axon regeneration after spinal cord injury. This discovery offers new possibilities for treating spinal cord injuries and highlights the potential of lipin1 as a promising therapeutic target for promoting the regeneration of motor and sensory axons.
While Pten has been identified as a potent target for promoting axon regeneration, its role as a tumor suppressor complicates clinical application, prompting the ongoing search for new therapeutic strategies. This research provides a significant stride towards repairing damaged neural networks and offers hope for patients with spinal cord injuries.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/genetics-cns-sci-neurology-27918/