Analysis of the early response to spinal cord injury identified a key role for mTORC1 signaling in the activation of neural stem progenitor cells

This study examines how spinal cord injuries trigger the activation of neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs) in Xenopus laevis larvae, which can regenerate their spinal cords. The research identifies that the mTORC1 signaling pathway plays a crucial role in this process by promoting NSPC proliferation. Inhibiting mTORC1 impairs spinal cord regeneration and reduces NSPC proliferation, highlighting its importance in the early stages of regeneration.

• 1
  mTORC1 is rapidly and transiently activated after spinal cord injury (SCI) in Xenopus laevis larvae.
• 2
  Pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 impairs spinal cord regeneration and proliferation of neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs).
• 3
  mTORC1 targets the expression of genes involved in the G1/S transition of the cell cycle, particularly PCNA, to promote NSPC proliferation.