7 replies to this topic

[Hip]

As a result of brain injury from neurodegenerative disease, stroke, brain infection or physical trauma, glial cells in the brain form scars that protect neurons from further injury. These are known as glial scars.

 

However, in the long term, glial scars also block the growth of new neurons, and thus prevent the brain from fully healing.

 

In the past, attempts to remove glial scars so that neurons can regenerate have not been very successful. 

 

But Professor Gong Chen and his team at Pennsylvania State University have been trying a new approach, which is based on using a set of drugs to reprogram the glial cells within the scar so that they turn into neurons. 

 

The discovered that a cocktail of 4 drugs (namely CHIR99021, DAPT, LDN193189 and SB431542) can efficiently turn human astrocytes (the main glial cell in the brain) into functioning neurons. 

 

So rather than trying to dissolve or remove the glia scar, as previous approaches have tried, Prof Chen is actually converting the scar into new neurons.

 

 

Article here: Simple drug formula regenerates brain cells

 

Published study: Transcriptome Analysis of Small Molecule–Mediated Astrocyte-to-Neuron Reprogramming

 

 

 

 

After a viral brain infection I had in 2005, I experienced some brain damage, with some of my mental faculties being instantly and permanently damaged or degraded. After this brain infection I also went on to get myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).  

 

So I am very interested in approaches that can repair brain damage.

 

 

 

Edited by Hip, 04 September 2019 - 01:29 AM.

[MentholFlavoring]

Finally someone who mentioned this. I have been following this lab for a while because what they have found may be a big breakthrough.

The astrocytes conversion happens by NeuroD1 expression and they've tried the 4 drug formule in mouse but could not trigger the conversion. They had achieved it before with ddirect injection so they're now trying to achieve that with the drug combination

[Daniel Cooper]

I wonder if there is any danger of these glial cells evolving into gliomas or worse .... glioblastomas with this treatment?

[nickthird]

The glial scar page on the Wiki mentions Chondroitinase as a possible treatment.

[Hip]

The glial scar page on the Wiki mentions Chondroitinase as a possible treatment.

 

Chondroitinase ABC helps dissolve the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) deposits found around damaged brain areas. These CSPGs deposits form a barrier to brain regeneration, and are mainly responsible for damage in the brain and spinal cord being irreparable. Ref: here.

 

The problem with chondroitinase ABC is that it can only treat a small region of brain or spinal cord around the injection site (chondroitinase ABC has to be injected into the brain or spinal cord). So it cannot help with more diffuse brain injury. (This was told to me by an expert on chondroitinase ABC).

[Believer]

Chondroitinase ABC helps dissolve the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) deposits found around damaged brain areas. These CSPGs deposits form a barrier to brain regeneration, and are mainly responsible for damage in the brain and spinal cord being irreparable. Ref: here.

 

The problem with chondroitinase ABC is that it can only treat a small region of brain or spinal cord around the injection site (chondroitinase ABC has to be injected into the brain or spinal cord). So it cannot help with more diffuse brain injury. (This was told to me by an expert on chondroitinase ABC).

 

Does Chondroitinase ABC work against all scar tissue types

[Hip]

Does Chondroitinase ABC work against all scar tissue types

 

I've only come across it in the context of scars in the brain and CNS.

[MichaelFocus22]

1. Injection of New stem-cells into an ADHD brain might be interesting towards mitigating executive deficits. Maybe an ADD brain is more scarred in the prefrontal cortex?