Browse the latest research summaries in the field of genetics for spinal cord injury patients and caregivers.
Showing 141-150 of 1,773 results
PLoS ONE, 2014 • June 10, 2014
This study analyzes the transcriptome and proteome of Monodelphis domestica after spinal cord injury at two postnatal ages, P7 and P28. At P7, only 40 genes changed expression, mostly related to immun...
KEY FINDING: Following injury at P7 only forty genes changed (all increased expression); most were immune/inflammatory genes.
BMC Biology, 2014 • June 12, 2014
The study demonstrates that increased microtubule dynamics in the growth cone are associated with enhanced axonal growth, particularly after a conditioning lesion. GSK3β, a kinase regulating microtubu...
KEY FINDING: Decreased GSK3β activity and increased microtubule growth speed are present in conditioned neurons with high regenerative capacity.
BMC Developmental Biology, 2014 • June 18, 2014
This study investigates the role of hedgehog signaling in tail regeneration of Xenopus tadpoles, focusing on the expression of Sonic hedgehog (Shh). The research finds that Shh is exclusively expresse...
KEY FINDING: Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is expressed exclusively in the notochord during tail regeneration in Xenopus tadpoles.
PLoS ONE, 2014 • June 19, 2014
The study aimed to determine the effect of STAT3 inhibition on human neural stem cells (hNSCs) to enhance motor neuron differentiation. FGF2 priming reduces tyrosine phosphorylated STAT3 in hNSCs, and...
KEY FINDING: hNSCs primed with FGF2 exhibited a lower level of phosphorylated STAT3 compared to cells primed with EGF.
Brain Pathology, 2014 • May 26, 2014
Tissue fibrosis, or scar formation, is a common response to damage in most organs of the body. The central nervous system (CNS) is special in that fibrogenic cells are restricted to vascular and menin...
KEY FINDING: Pericytes and perivascular fibroblasts are key cells involved in generating the fibrotic scar in the CNS following injury.
BioMed Research International, 2014 • May 14, 2014
This review discusses the structure and function of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in both healthy states and in the context of genetic disorders affecting the brain. The reviewed studies h...
KEY FINDING: Genetic variation in the NCAN gene (rs1064395) is a common risk factor for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
PNAS, 2014 • July 8, 2014
The study investigates the role of the peripheral nervous system in tissue replacement in mammalian appendages using clonal analysis of mouse hind limb tissues. The findings indicate that while tissue...
KEY FINDING: Cellular turnover, replacement, and differentiation from presumed tissue stem/progenitor cells within hind limb tissues remain largely intact independent of nerve and nerve-derived factors.
J Vet Intern Med, 2014 • September 1, 2014
This study compared CSF cytokine concentrations in Great Danes with and without CSM. Lower levels of MCP-1/CCL2 were found in affected dogs, especially those with severe spinal cord compression. Highe...
KEY FINDING: Great Danes with CSM had significantly lower concentrations of MCP-1/CCL2 in their cerebrospinal fluid compared to healthy dogs.
J Chem Neuroanat, 2014 • November 1, 2014
This study details the distribution of PlexinA4 in the adult rat cranial nerves, finding it present in all nerves surveyed including sensory and motor nerves. The consistent presence of PlexinA4 in ad...
KEY FINDING: PlexinA4 is expressed in the olfactory nerve, specifically in the olfactory bulb by mitral cells and in axons of the lateral olfactory tract.
Neural Regen Res, 2014 • February 1, 2014
Glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) contribute to formation of the extracellular matrix, which provides adhesive sites, signaling molecules, and a diffusion barrier to enhance efficient ne...
KEY FINDING: Following CNS injury, glial cells activate and alter the ECM composition at the lesion border, creating a growth-inhibitory environment.