Enhancing Central Nervous System Repair-The Challenges

Repairing the central nervous system (CNS) means restoring the structure of neural networks, both in form and function. Neurological diseases often involve damage to nerve cells, immune responses to this damage, and subsequent nerve cell degeneration. CNS repair requires a comprehensive approach that includes addressing the underlying causes of the damage, controlling inflammation, protecting nerve cells from degeneration, and rebuilding connections between nerve cells. Two main strategies for CNS repair are cell replacement (replacing lost cells) and promoting neural growth (encouraging the growth of new nerve connections).

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  The major challenges of CNS repair include neurodegeneration and pathological obstacles impeding neural cell growth after CNS injury.
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  Neurodegeneration, traditionally viewed as the progressive loss of neurons, also involves the deterioration of glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) in CNS diseases.
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  Natural IgMs that bind neural cells and promote CNS repair is firmly established and emerging reagents such as human monoclonal IgMs that regulate homeostasis to produce a permissive environment for neuroregeneration may shed new light on CNS repair.