Potential new avenue for overcoming Glial scar

I’ve talked before about the glial scar and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and how this inhibits axonal regeneration. CSPGs inhibit growing axons or cause them to stall by stabilising the growth cones. Chondroitinase treatment helps to overcome this inhibition by cleaving the side chains of the CSPGs leading to numerous beneficial effects [252.01, 270.01, 270.02, 270.04, 270.06, 270.07, 270.08].

One important advance in our understanding came with the identification of receptors for CSPGs on neurons and with it the potential to develop new treatments centred on these receptors. Towards this BT Lang et al. [Presentation #252.07] have generated small peptides (protein molecules) against these recently discovered receptors, the LAR phosphatase and PTPsigma.  The peptides have been developed to penetrate cells and unlock the growth cone from the CSPG increasing axonal motility, extension in tissue culture experiments.

Lang and his colleagues went on to test the effect of these penetrating proteins in a model of severe contusion injury in rats.  Interestingly, it was possible to deliver the peptides via a simple subcutaneous injection and, in the case of the peptide targeted against the PTPsigma receptor, saw fairly robust improvements in locomotor, sensorimotor, coordination and bladder function.

Note added: It is worth looking here to see some decenting views on what the ligand is for PTPsigma.