Promotion of corticospinal tract growth by KLF6 requires an injury stimulus and occurs within four weeks of treatment

This study investigates how a protein called KLF6 affects the growth of nerve fibers in the spinal cord after an injury. KLF6 is known to help nerve fibers sprout, which could potentially improve recovery. The researchers found that KLF6 only promotes nerve fiber growth when there's an injury. Also, this growth happens within four weeks of the KLF6 treatment. Despite the nerve fiber growth, the treatment with KLF6 didn't actually improve the mice's ability to use their forelimbs in tests. Adding rehabilitation didn't change this outcome.

• 1
  KLF6's pro-growth effects on corticospinal tract axons require an injury stimulus, as KLF6 expression alone did not trigger sprouting.
• 2
  Significant enhancement of corticospinal tract axon growth triggered by KLF6 occurs within four weeks of treatment after pyramidotomy.
• 3
  Treatment with KLF6, either alone or combined with delayed rehabilitation, did not result in significant improvements in forelimb function after pyramidotomy injury.