Damage to the spinal cord rarely heals because the injured nerve cells
fail to regenerate. The regrowth of their long nerve fibers is hindered
by scar tissue and molecular processes inside the nerves. An
international team of researchers led by DZNE scientists in Bonn now
report that help might be on the way from an
unexpected quarter: in animal studies, the cancer drug Epothilone
reduced the formation of scar tissue in injuries to the spinal cord and
stimulated growth in damaged nerve cells. Both promoted neuronal
regeneration and improved the animals' motor skills.
Experiments have shown Epothilone works on several levels. Epothilone
reduces the growth of scar tissue by inhibiting the formation of
micro-tubules in the cells that form the scar tissue.
Therefore they cannot migrate to the spinal cord lesion and cause wound
scarring. At the same time, Epothilone promotes growth and regeneration
in the nerve cells by causing micro-tubules to grow into the damaged
axon tips.
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