Source: Children's Hospital Boston
Posted: May 14, 2006
Summary:
Researchers have discovered a naturally occurring growth factor that stimulates regeneration of injured nerve fibers (axons) in the central nervous system.
When a growth factor, called oncomodulin, was added to retinal nerve cells in a Petri dish, with known growth-promoting factors already present, axon growth nearly doubled.
The researchers believe oncomodulin could someday prove useful in reversing optic-nerve damage caused by glaucoma, tumors or traumatic injury. They have also shown that oncomodulin works on at least one other type of nerve cell, and now plans to test whether it also works on the types of brain cells that would be relevant to treating conditions like stroke and spinal cord injury.
Commentary: Hopefully this research will prove applicable in promoting regeneration in humans with conditions where nerve tissue has been damaged or destroyed.
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