Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio have had what looks like a major breakthrough in the treatment of damaged spinal cords. A drug they have developed has succeed in helping paralyzed rats regain movement in their legs and control of their bladders. Jerry Silver, who is leading to the research project, has called the results "unprecedented." This new treatment is a drug that is injected. Current treatments all include invasive spinal surgery, including stem cell injections, implants of neurostimulators or nerve tissue transplants. This new treatment is very appealing to health care providers because it does not require surgery at all.
How This "Farfetched" Treatment Works
A main impediment to healing spinal cord injuries is scar tissue build up. This scar tissue grows quickly around damaged areas. As the nerve cells send out growths, called axons, these growths are stymied by the build up of scar tissue. Proteoglycans are sticky molecules that grab the axons as they grow. "What we found is that when nerve fibers are damaged they have a receptor that can see those proteoglycan molecules and stick tightly to it. They stick so tightly they can't move. It's like flypaper," says Silver.
This new treatment is the brainchild of graduate students Bradley Lang and Jared Cregg. Despite skepticism from Silver the two students designed a compound that put blinders on the nerve cells, making them blind to the proteoglycans. This compound adheres to the nerve cell receptor, blocking to from sticking to the proteoglycans. Silver said "it seemed to me farfetched at best." It seemed impossible that injecting a compound under the skin could effect these nerve cells around the body.
It Worked!
Lang and Cregg have called their serum intracellular sigma peptide, or ISP. When ISP was injected into rats with spinal injuries daily 21 out of 26 of them regained some movement in their rear legs, bladder control or both. To be clear this is not a full and absolute recovery, this is marginal improvement to movement and control, which is remarkable development but not a "cure."
No Human Trials Yet
Individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries are excited about this new treatment but there are several stages before it will be ready for human trials. For most people suffering from this type of paralysis recovery of bladder, bowel and sexual function is a higher priority then use of their legs, as it provides improved quality of life. Before this treatment is deemed safe for humans trials in larger animals will be necessary. Next they will try the serum on pigs. Researchers also want to make a few details of the trial clear to potential patents to mitigate optimism.
These experiments have only been carried out on recently injured animals, so results may not be replicated in patents with past injuries. Also, this drug is injected into the body and travels throughout the system. There have been no side effects in rats, but this is a possible downside. Scientists are hopeful that this treatment might have applications beyond spinal injuries, with possibilities for other conditions that create scar tissue, like multiple sclerosis and heart conditions.
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