Source: Northwestern University
Date: December 1, 2009
Summary:
Researchers at Northwestern's Institute for Cell Engineering are hoping to save damaged spines. Chian-Yu Peng, a research assistant professor, is focusing on Bone Morphogenetic Proteins. These proteins play an integral part in repairing major spinal injuries. The complexity of BMP makes the research evolve in new and often useful ways, he said.
After a spinal injury, Peng explained, the spine is deeply resistant to the growth and utilization of nerves, and becomes a kind of barren wasteland - inflammation, and, for reasons not yet completely understood, a resistance to neuron growth sets in. But the presence of these BMPs regulates the production of astrocytes, which proliferate at spinal injuries and increase the inflammation, blocking the regeneration of nerve axons which are crucial for the spine to recover from the trauma. The removal of the astrocyte conundrum could be the first step towards regenerating connections to muscles. In short: the researchers want the BMP to tell the astrocytes to stop, which could prevent scarring and reduce damage.
