Local injection of Lenti-­Olig2 at lesion site promotes functional recovery of spinal cord injury in rats

This study investigates the potential of Olig2 gene therapy to improve recovery after spinal cord injury in rats. Olig2 is a protein important for the development of cells that produce myelin, which insulates nerve fibers. The researchers injected a virus carrying the Olig2 gene into the injured spinal cords of rats. The injections led to an increase in myelin-producing cells and improved the insulation of nerve fibers. The rats treated with Olig2 gene therapy showed better hindlimb movement compared to the control group. These findings suggest that Olig2 gene therapy could be a potential treatment strategy to promote recovery after spinal cord injury by enhancing myelin repair.

• 1
  Local injection of Lenti-Olig2 significantly increased the number of oligodendrocytes lineage cells and enhanced myelination after SCI.
• 2
  The introduction of Olig2 greatly improved hindlimb locomotor performances.
• 3
  The oligodendrocytes related transcription factors, which were obviously downregulated or upregulated after injury, were reversed by Olig2 induction.