A breakthrough in brain and spinal cord repair is expected. Damaged nerve cells in the brains of mice may be made to repair themselves by turning off proteins that keep nerve cells growth in check.
This is the first time it has been possible to see such significant regeneration by manipulating single molecules.
The research team focused on a gene network called the mTOR pathway, which is active when young nerve cells are first growing but becomes less so once they mature.
Nerve injury appears to shut down this network completely.
And two proteins PTEN and TSCI-appear to be responsible for silencing this pathway.
When these proteins are blocked, the cells show capability of repair.
