Researchers generate neurons in brains, spinal cords

UT Southwestern release | Nature paper

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers created nerve cells in the brains and spinal cords of living mammals without the need for stem cell transplants to replenish lost cells.  Their goal is to regenerate neurons from the body’s own cells to repair traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage, and to treat brain diseases.  While promising, it has not yet been proven that the neurons created in these studies resulted in functional improvements. Scientists hope that regenerating cells can repair damage, but adult spinal cords have limited ability to produce new neurons.

The team first turned astrocytes into neurons that formed networks in mice. They have now turned scar-forming astrocytes in the spinal cords of adult mice into neurons.

The two-step approach first introduces a biological substance that regulates the expression of genes into areas of the brain or spinal cord where that factor is not highly expressed in adult mice. Of 12 transcription factors tested, only SOX2 switched fully differentiated, adult astrocytes to an earlier neuronal precursor, or neuroblast, stage of development.

In the second step, the researchers gave the mice a drug called valproic acid that encouraged the survival of the neuroblasts and their maturation into neurons. VPA has been used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraine headaches.

The study reports neurogenesis occurred in the spinal cords of adult and aged mice of both sexes, although the response was much weaker in the aged mice. Researchers now are attempting to boost the number and speed of neuron creation.


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